Sworn In

On January 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. His inauguration took place at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C. The ceremony is traditionally held outdoors. But because of cold weather, it took place inside the Capitol Rotunda.

Trump was sworn in, just after noon, by Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts. Trump took the oath of office with his wife, Melania, by his side. He promised to do his best to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

PRESIDENTIAL PROMISE Donald Trump takes the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda, in Washington, D.C., on January 20.

Trump then delivered his inaugural address. “The golden age of America begins right now,” he said. He also said that he would declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, bring down costs for everyday Americans, and land astronauts on Mars. “If we work together,” Trump said, “there is nothing we cannot do and no dream we cannot achieve.”

Also on January 20, J.D. Vance was sworn in as vice president. He took the oath of office alongside his wife, Usha, and their three children.

NEW V.P. Prior to Trump’s inauguration, J.D. Vance is sworn in as the country’s new vice president.

Path to the Presidency

Trump was first elected president in 2016. He served as the country’s 45th commander in chief from 2017 to 2021. He lost reelection to Joe Biden in 2020, but remained a powerful force in U.S. politics and culture. In November 2024, he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the election and regained the presidency.

After leaving office in 2021, Trump faced legal troubles. Last May, a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felonies, or serious crimes. He was charged with creating false business records that, according to prosecutors, were made to help him win reelection. He was sentenced, without punishment, on January 10. He’s the first U.S. president to enter office with a felony conviction.

Trump’s return to the White House is historic in other ways. He’s the second U.S. president elected to terms that are not back-to-back. And at 78, Trump is the oldest person ever to begin a term as U.S. president.

Getting Started

Inaugural events went on throughout the day and evening. After the ceremony, Trump and Vance greeted supporters in an arena. They watched an indoor parade of firefighters, police officers, and marching bands. Then Trump sat onstage and signed eight executive orders (see Teacher’s Guide, “Presidential Orders”). The first reversed 78 of the Biden administration’s executive orders and memos. Others were about removing the U.S. from international agreements on environmental regulations and public health. Trump believes these agreements are not in the best interests of the U.S. Afterward, people cheered as he tossed his pens to the crowd.

Trump continued signing orders in the Oval Office. One delays a ban on TikTok. Others focus on immigration, tariffs × tariff a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country (noun) , and trade. Additionally, Trump pardoned × pardon to officially excuse a person from punishment for wrongdoing (verb) nearly 1,600 of his supporters involved with an attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Later, he and the First Lady attended three inaugural balls. At one, he again pledged to improve the country. “Just watch what happens,” he said. “There’s gonna be big progress.”