If you were looking for the standard outdoor spectacle at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025, you probably noticed something felt a little off. Usually, we see the President-elect standing out on the West Front, bracing against the wind while thousands huddle on the National Mall. But 2025 threw a curveball. Frigid temperatures and high winds forced the 60th Presidential Inauguration inside the Capitol Rotunda. It was a rare move—the first time since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 that the weather won the day.
So, what time is inauguration 2025 actually happening for those trying to catch the highlights or looking back at the schedule?
Basically, the "magic hour" is always noon. That is not just a tradition; it is literally written into the 20th Amendment of the Constitution. At 12:00 p.m. ET, the term of the outgoing president ends, and the new term begins. Whether the oath has been finished or not, the power shifts the second the clock strikes twelve.
The Real Schedule: Breaking Down the Day
Most people think the whole thing starts at noon. Not really. If you tried to show up at the Capitol at 11:55 a.m., you’d have missed most of the build-up. The gates for ticket holders actually opened as early as 6:00 a.m. for security screenings.
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The musical prelude usually kicks things off around 9:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. This year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs and "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band handled the early atmosphere. By 11:30 a.m., the official program was in full swing.
Here is how the main event actually flowed:
- 11:30 a.m. ET: Opening remarks and invocations. Senator Amy Klobuchar issued the call to order, followed by prayers from Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. Franklin Graham.
- Shortly before noon: JD Vance took the vice presidential oath of office, administered by Justice Brett Kavanaugh. This always happens first to ensure there is a successor in place before the top job is filled.
- 12:00 p.m. ET: Donald Trump took the presidential oath of office, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts.
- 12:10 p.m. ET: The Inaugural Address. This is where the new president lays out the vision for the next four years.
Honestly, the indoor setting changed the vibe. Instead of a massive sea of people, it was an intimate, echoes-off-the-marble kind of ceremony. It was different.
The Parade and the "Pivot"
The weather didn't just move the swearing-in; it messed with the parade too. Usually, the President and the First Lady lead a massive procession down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House. But with the sub-freezing temps in D.C. on January 20, the traditional parade was essentially moved indoors to the Capital One Arena around 3:00 p.m. ET.
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This gave the event a "rally" feel rather than a traditional military procession. You had the Village People, Kid Rock, and Lee Greenwood involved in the weekend's festivities, making it a very different brand of pageantry than what we saw in 2021 or 2017.
Why the Timing Matters
You’ve probably wondered why it's always January 20th. Until 1937, presidents weren't sworn in until March. Imagine waiting four months for a transition of power in the modern world. It would be total chaos. The 20th Amendment shortened that "lame duck" period significantly.
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If January 20th falls on a Sunday, the President is sworn in privately that day, and the public ceremony happens on the 21st. But for 2025, it landed on a Monday—which also happened to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day. That’s only happened a couple of times before, notably for Barack Obama’s second term and Bill Clinton’s second term.
Actionable Tips for Following the 2025 Transition
If you are looking for specific documents or recordings from the day, don't just search social media. The "Signing Ceremony" happens immediately after the swearing-in in the President's Room at the Capitol. This is when the first executive orders and nominations are officially inked.
- Watch the full replay: Most major networks like NBC, CBS, and Fox News keep the full, unedited three-hour broadcast on their YouTube channels.
- Check the Federal Register: If you want to see the actual "Day 1" executive orders signed during the signing ceremony, they usually hit the official Federal Register within 24 to 48 hours.
- Official Photos: The White House flickr account and the Library of Congress are the best spots for high-res images of the Rotunda ceremony, which looked significantly different from past outdoor events.
The transition doesn't end when the sun goes down on the 20th. The "Commander-in-Chief Ball" and the "Liberty Ball" usually run late into the night, featuring performances by artists like Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean. While the swearing-in is the legal part, the balls are where the political networking actually happens.
If you're tracking the first 100 days, the clock started exactly at 12:00 p.m. ET on January 20. Everything after that is official business.