If you were looking for the exact moment the power shifted, it happened at high noon. Specifically, 12:00 PM ET on Monday, January 20, 2025. That was the instant Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
It's a date set in stone by the 20th Amendment of the Constitution. Since 1933, every president has started their term at that precise time. But honestly, this particular January 20 was anything but "standard." Between the freezing Washington D.C. weather and a major venue change, the day looked a lot different than the typical outdoor spectacle we usually see on the steps of the Capitol.
When was Donald Trump sworn in?
The official ceremony took place inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Usually, the swearing-in happens on the West Front of the Capitol, looking out over the National Mall. But Mother Nature had other plans. Because of "freezing temperatures and high winds," organizers made the rare call to move the whole thing indoors.
It was a tight squeeze. Instead of the massive crowds sprawling toward the Washington Monument, the audience was limited to about 500 people inside the Rotunda. You had the Supreme Court Justices, former presidents, and a handful of tech giants like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg all packed into the circular room under the dome.
Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath. This was actually the second time Roberts has sworn in Trump, following the 2017 ceremony. Trump placed his hand on two Bibles—his personal family Bible and the historic Lincoln Bible—and recited the 35 words required by the Constitution.
The 2025 Inauguration Schedule
The day wasn't just about the oath. It was a marathon of tradition and high-security logistics. Here is how the actual timeline played out:
- Morning Tea: Trump and Melania met with Joe and Jill Biden at the White House. This is that awkward but necessary "peaceful transfer" tradition.
- 11:40 AM: JD Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President by Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
- 12:00 PM: Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President.
- 12:10 PM: The Inaugural Address. Trump spoke for about 20 minutes, laying out his "Golden Age of America" vision.
- Afternoon: Instead of a traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, the festivities moved to the Capital One Arena due to the cold.
Why the date is always January 20
People often ask why we wait so long after the November election. It’s actually much faster than it used to be. Back in the day, presidents weren't sworn in until March 4. In the 18th century, it took months for folks to travel by horse to D.C. and for the votes to be hand-counted and carried across state lines.
The 20th Amendment changed all that in 1933. It shortened the "lame duck" period because, frankly, the country realized having a sitting president with no power for four months was a recipe for disaster, especially during crises like the Great Depression. Now, the term of the outgoing president ends exactly at noon on the 20th. Even if the Chief Justice is running late, at 12:00:01, the new guy has the nuclear codes.
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Who was actually there?
The guest list was a mix of political rivals and new-age allies. Joe Biden was there, keeping the tradition of the outgoing president attending the ceremony (unlike in 2021). Kamala Harris was there too.
But the real story was the "who's who" of the tech and business world. Seeing Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg in the same room as the Congressional leadership signaled a shift in the kind of influence the new administration was courting.
On the entertainment side, things were a bit more "MAGA-centric." You had Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood performing at the pre-inaugural events. Carrie Underwood sang "America the Beautiful" during the actual ceremony, which added a touch of Nashville to the D.C. air.
The Venue Swap
Moving the ceremony into the Rotunda was a big deal. The last time a president was sworn in indoors due to weather was Ronald Reagan in 1985. It changes the vibe. It feels more intimate, almost like a private club meeting rather than a public crowning. For some, it was a practical safety move. For others, it felt like the public was being shut out of a historic moment.
What happened immediately after?
The second the ceremony ended, the work started. Trump didn't wait to head back to the White House to start signing papers. He went straight to the President's Room in the Capitol.
This is where the "Signing Ceremony" happens. He signed several executive orders and formal nominations for his Cabinet—people like Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and Pete Hegseth for Defense. By the time the inaugural luncheon started in Statuary Hall, the new administration was already legally in motion.
If you are tracking the policy changes or the legal shifts that started that day, you should look into the "Stargate" AI initiative he announced almost immediately or the border security orders that were signed within the first 48 hours.
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Next Steps for You:
Check the official Federal Register or the updated White House website to see the full list of executive orders signed during that first week in January 2025. You can also look up the Congressional Record for January 6, 2025, to see the final certification of the electoral votes that made the January 20 inauguration possible.