What to expect on Donald Trump's inauguration day

Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on 20 January, ushering in his second term in office and capping one of the most astounding political comebacks in American history.

Inauguration Day is, by tradition, largely dedicated to pomp and circumstance. One president leaves the White House and another moves in.

But Mr Trump also has pledged to sign a flurry of executive orders on subjects ranging from border security to oil and gas production on his first day in office.

Here is what we know about Inauguration Day so far.

When is the inauguration?

Mr Trump will take the oath of office, likely administered by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, at 12pm local time (5pm Irish time).

It would mark Mr Roberts's second time officiating for Mr Trump.

He will then deliver his inaugural address. In interviews, he has said he intends it to be uplifting and unifying.

That would mark a departure from his first speech in 2017, which detailed a broken country he described as "American carnage".

Incoming vice president JD Vance will also be sworn in.

The outgoing president, Democrat Joe Biden, has said he plans to attend the ceremony and witness the transfer of power, a courtesy Mr Trump did not afford him four years earlier.

In recent years, presidents have been sworn in from an enormous temporary platform located on the Capitol's scenic West Lawn, overlooking the National Mall.

However, Mr Trump has said his inauguration will be held indoors because of severe cold and the presidential parade will be held at a nearby sports arena.

"There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country," Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social feed on Friday.

"Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda."

The dramatic change of plan means Mr Trump will not stand on the Capitol steps overlooking the National Mall, which traditionally hosts a large crowd to welcome new presidents.

Preparations have already been made in Washington for a huge influx of visitors, but many will now have to watch on television.

The last time a president took the oath of office indoors was Ronald Reagan in 1985, who also moved the ceremony into the Capitol's ornate Rotunda due to dangerously cold weather.

Who is invited?

Mr Trump has broken with precedent and invited several foreign leaders to the ceremony.

Historically, they have not attended the inaugural due to security concerns and have sent diplomats in their stead.

Argentina's president, Javier Milei, a strong supporter of Mr Trump, has said he will attend.

Another backer of Mr Trump's, Hungary's Viktor Orban, has said he is considering attending too.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to attend, despite an invitation.

In one of the inauguration's most Trumpian twists, the Republican has invited a number of tech titans to the platform as VIPs.

They will sit alongside other prominent - albeit more standard - guests such as his cabinet nominees.

Billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will attend as will Shou Chew, the head of Chinese social media giant TikTok, according to US media.

Not only has Mr Trump courted closer ties with the tech moguls, but his campaign benefitted from disinformation spread on social media platforms such as TikTok, Mr Musk's X and Mr Zuckerberg's Facebook and Instagram.

All living former presidents -- Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama -- will attend, as will their wives, except for Michelle Obama.

That means Hillary Clinton, whom Mr Trump beat in the 2016 presidential election, in addition to Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he beat in November, will be there.

Musicians take centre stage

Mr Trump's first inauguration in 2017 was marked by a lack of celebrity power, as the controversial reality star-turned-politician struggled to find A-list musicians willing to be associated with him.

Mr Trump's second inauguration is in slightly better shape.

Famed country singer Carrie Underwood will sing "America the Beautiful" during the swearing in ceremony.

Also performing will be country singer Lee Greenwood, whose patriotic anthem "God Bless the USA" was a well-established Trump rally anthem.

A pre-inauguration rally will include a performance by The Village People, whose 1970s-era "Y.M.C.A." was another Trump rally staple, in addition to Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Country musicians including Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts and Gavin DeGraw plus the Village People will perform across Mr Trump's three official inaugural balls.

Getting to work

Mr Trump has vowed to use the afternoon to sign more than two dozen executive orders – dictates that do not require congressional approval – that will seek to roll back many of the Biden administration's policies.

He is expected to sign orders that give immigration officers more latitude to arrest migrants with no criminal records, send more troops to the US - Mexico border and restart construction of the border wall.

The orders will include a drive to increase energy production and follow through on Mr Trump's oft-stated campaign vow to "drill, baby, drill".

Trump also is likely to issue the first wave of pardons for defendants convicted by the federal government for their participation in the 6 January 2021 siege of the US Capitol.

Partying at night

There will be a series of inaugural galas held in locations throughout Washington that evening, some of which Mr Trump may attend.

The official events are financed by Mr Trump’s inauguration committee, which is chaired by his longtime Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer, and Kelly Loeffler, a former US senator.

Amazon.com, led by founder Jeff Bezos, and Meta Platforms, helmed by Mr Zuckerberg, have said they will donate $1 million each to the committee.

Large donations to the committee must be reported to the Federal Election Commission.

Mr Trump raised a record $106.7 million for his 2017 inauguration festivities.