On January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump was sworn-in as the 47th President of the United States of America, marking his second term in the White House and wide-ranging promises to reshape the nation. The ceremony planned for the traditional outdoor setting was gradually moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme cold-weather conditions. The event also witnessed the oath ceremony of the 50th Vice President of the United States; J.D. Vance. During the ceremony, the Presidential oath was administered by Chief Justice John Roberts to President Trump whereas Justice Brett Kavanaugh administered the oath to Vice President Vance. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by several U.S. politicians and dignitaries including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Mike Pence among others. The ceremony was also attended by former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
Subsequently, during his inaugural address that followed, President Trump focused on subjects of national revival, economic growth, strong foreign policy stance, immigration, safety, sovereignty, and justice among others. Thereafter, in line with the tradition that began in 1981, President Trump took part in the signing ceremony in the President’s room. As his first official action, he signed the first round of executive orders that was in line with his declarations made earlier.
Notable Foreign Leaders
President Trump’s’- inauguration also witnessed the presence of several foreign leaders, some of which are as follows;
- Mr. Han Zheng- Vice President of China, representing President Xi Jinping,
- Mr. Javier Milei- President of Argentina,
- Ms. Giorgia Meloni- Prime Minister of Italy,
- Mr. Boris Johnson- former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,
- Mr. Daniel Noboa- President of Ecuador,
- Ms. Penny Wong- Foreign Minister of Australia,
- Mr. Takeshi Iwaya- Foreign Minister of Japan,
- and Dr. S. Jaishankar – External Affairs Minister of India
In addition to this, several billionaires and tech CEOs also attended the ceremony including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook , and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani among others were present.
India’s Presence at the Event
External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar represented India at the swearing-in ceremony of the 47th President of the United States. He also attended the Inauguration Day prayer service at St. John’s church. In an update on X he states “A great honour to represent India at the inauguration ceremony of President Donald J Trump and vice President JD Vance in Washington DC. On the sidelines the EAM also interacted with Foreign Minister of Australia, Japan etc. and key members of President Trump’s administration.
Highlights of the Inauguration Ceremony
The presence of several foreign dignitaries at President Trump’s’- inauguration was a historical first, considering that it was the first time that multiple leaders attended the U.S. Presidential inauguration. Their presence only underscored the global significance of the event, reinforcing diplomatic ties, bilateral relations with a potential for enhanced collaboration on global issues.