Trump's inauguration weekend features fireworks, MAGA rally, inaugural balls
President-elect Trump's inauguration weekend will start with a fireworks display outside his northern Virginia golf club and end with a trio of inaugural balls where he will speak, the committee planning the events announced Monday.
The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee unveiled the schedule of events for the weekend, beginning on Saturday with fireworks and a reception at Trump's golf club in Sterling, Va. On the same night, Trump's picks for Cabinet positions will attend a reception and dinner with Vice President-elect JD Vance.
On Sunday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Trump last visited the cemetery to mark the anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, a stop that sparked controversy after his staff clashed with employees on the cemetery grounds.
Trump will deliver remarks at a rally at Capital One Arena in Washington later Sunday, and he will cap off the evening by hosting a candlelight dinner with donors.
Monday will be Inauguration Day and feature a slew of events, beginning with a church service at St. John's church in Lafayette Square and tea at the White House.
Trump will be sworn in at noon at the U.S. Capitol, followed by an official farewell to President Biden and Vice President Harris. Trump will also deliver a speech at the Capitol, as is custom for newly sworn-in presidents.
Trump will partake in a signing ceremony to make nominations official, and there will be a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
After that, there will be a presidential review of the troops and the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. That will be followed by an Oval Office signing ceremony at the White House. The day will conclude with three inaugural balls, all attended by Trump: The Commander in Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball.
Inaugural events will formally wrap up on Tuesday with the National Prayer Service.
"The 2025 inaugural celebrations will reflect President-elect Trump’s historic return to the White House and the American people’s decisive vote to Make America Great Again," inauguration co-chairs Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffler said in a statement.
In addition to the formal inauguration events hosted by Trump's committee, there will be several additional galas and celebrations around Washington to mark the change in administration.