Trump's inauguration: how it will unfold and which global political and business figures will take part.

The inauguration of the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, will be a pivotal event in January 2025. A variety of activities, the presence of notable personalities, and political polarization ensure that this inauguration will be one of the most talked-about in U.S. history. UNN has gathered all the details surrounding Trump’s inauguration.

For four days, Washington will become the epicenter of celebrations, which will simultaneously be accompanied by protests and heightened security measures.

The inaugural events will kick off on Saturday, January 18, with a Presidential reception at the Trump Sterling golf club near Washington. This event will be marked by a ceremonial atmosphere, festive programming, and fireworks.

On Sunday, January 19, Donald Trump and his team will honor the fallen heroes of the U.S. at Arlington National Cemetery, where a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Following this, a victory rally is scheduled in the heart of the capital under the slogan “Make America Great Again.” The rally will demonstrate support for the new course of the Trump administration. The day will conclude with a formal dinner, during which the president will deliver a speech outlining his future plans.

Monday, January 20, will be the main day of events. The morning will begin with a traditional service at St. John’s Church, after which Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance, will visit the White House, where the outgoing President Joe Biden will officially transfer his powers.

At 12:00 PM local time, Donald Trump will take the oath of office outside the Capitol, officially becoming the President of the United States. The ceremony will continue with a formal luncheon in Congress and a review of military units.

Next will be a grand presidential parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, symbolizing the unity of the American nation. In the evening, Trump will participate in three official balls, including the Commander-in-Chief's Ball, where he will deliver a speech to his supporters.

On Tuesday, January 21, the inaugural cycle of events will conclude with a national prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington. This service will symbolize the unification of the country ahead of the new presidential term.

Washington Prepares for the Event

Trump's inauguration is expected to attract around 250,000 guests to the U.S. capital who have purchased tickets for the ceremony. Although this number is lower than Trump's first inauguration in 2017 (which saw over a million attendees), the event remains significant.

City officials and federal agencies will ensure the highest level of security. According to Special Agent William McCullough, 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel will be deployed in the District of Columbia on the day of the ceremony. The heightened security measures are in response to recent acts of violence in the country, including the New Year's attack in New Orleans.

Protests and Civic Activism

Despite the festive atmosphere, protests are expected in Washington. On Saturday, a large demonstration called the "People's March" will be organized by civic activists advocating for human rights, racial equality, and reproductive health.

On Monday, the Answer Coalition’s National Day of Action will hold a protest march. The D.C. police emphasized that they are prepared to uphold citizens' rights to peaceful demonstrations but warned of strict actions in case of law violations.

Participation of Celebrities and International Leaders

Trump’s inauguration has drawn attention from both American and international figures. Notable invitees include:

 - Country star Carrie Underwood;

 - The Village People, known for Trump’s song "YMCA";

 - Rappers Waka Flocka Flame and Fivio Foreign;

 - Singer Kid Rock and actor Sylvester Stallone.

Among the international guests are:

- President of Argentina Javier Milei;

 - Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni;

 - President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele.

This year, Trump broke established traditions by inviting Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the inauguration, but he declined. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also took a similar stance, opting not to attend the ceremony.

As for Ukraine, no official invitation has been extended to President Zelensky. This is not surprising, as the participation of foreign leaders in U.S. presidential inaugurations is not customary. States usually send their ambassadors. For instance, during Joe Biden's inauguration, Ukraine was represented by then-ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko.

The current Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, is not known to be participating in the inauguration events.

Among the guests will be the political elite of the U.S.: Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, and current President Joe Biden. The event will also be attended by the wives of former leaders, including Hillary Clinton and Jill Biden. However, Michelle Obama has declined the invitation, leaving the reason for her absence unknown.

Representatives of the global business community, who generously supported Donald Trump's campaign, will also be present. Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, donated over a quarter of a billion dollars. Alongside him are Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta (Facebook), Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, Sam Altman, head of OpenAI, and Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. Each contributed one million dollars.

In the evening, Zuckerberg will host a lavish black-tie reception, inviting Trump’s closest allies and promising an atmosphere of elegance and new political agreements.

Record Donations for the Inauguration

Trump's inaugural committee has raised a record $170 million, more than double the amount raised by Joe Biden in 2021. Among the largest sponsors are Boeing, Google, Meta, Amazon, Uber, and Chevron, as noted by UNN, each contributing one million dollars.

These funds will be used for organizing the ceremony, security measures, formal receptions, and charitable programs. For example, Google will provide a live stream of the inauguration via YouTube, while Meta will support the event's infrastructure.

TikTok will spend $50,000 on an inauguration party honoring influencers who helped Donald Trump spread his campaign message, according to the party organizer, scheduled for Sunday, the deadline for the company to separate from its Chinese owner or face a ban in the U.S.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also attend Trump’s inauguration, demonstrating the company’s close ties with the new administration. Meanwhile, TikTok is challenging a forced sale law in the Supreme Court, while Trump promises to “save” the platform.

When and Where to Watch the Inauguration?

Trump’s inauguration will take place on January 20, and the event will be broadcast by major American television networks and official platforms.

The ceremony will begin at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Kyiv time). You can watch it:

 - On the CNBC Television YouTube channel via this link.

 - In Ukrainian, the broadcast will be available on the "Voice of America" YouTube channel from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM Kyiv time. 

 On the official White House website.