IT is set to be the most divisive and volatile presidential inauguration ever.
Donald J Trump will officially take the oath of office today at noon local time (5pm GMT).
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Donald Trump will officially take the oath of US Presidential office today at 17.00 UK time in the most divisive presidential inauguration in historyCredit: Reuters
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Big shoes to fill . . Trump and Melania with capital’s Lincoln Memorial in the backgroundCredit: AP:Associated Press
Concrete barriers, cement-loaded trucks and 25,000 cops and agents will be in place to quieten the thousands of protesters who have pledged to bring chaos to Washington DC.
A million people will line the National Mall to see Trump take the 35-word Oath of Office on the Capitol Building steps.
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A million people are expected to line the national mall to see Donald Trump sworn in as President before a 90-minute parade through the cityCredit: Cover Images
Former presidents George W Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton will attend with their wives — including beaten Democrat Hillary Clinton.
While Obama’s first inauguration lasted five days, Trump’s lasts just three. And the post-oath parade, which has gone on for six hours in the past, will be just 90 minutes.
Trump wants to be at his desk by this evening.
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Ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage will be in attendance as a guest of the Governor of MississippiCredit: AP:Associated Press
He is throwing three inaugural balls — Bill Clinton set a new record in 1997 by attending 14 and Obama did ten in 2009.
Trump has also thrown open the Commander-in-Chief ball to include emergency workers, veterans and serving military.
At the meeting, he confirmed businessman Woody Johnson, owner of American football team the New York Jets, as ambassador to the UK.
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Donald Trump flew into Washington with wife Melania yesterdayCredit: Getty Images
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The pair immediately went to dinner with the President-Elect's inner circle in preparation for the big dayCredit: EPA
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Donald and Melania are set to attend a church service this morning before the inauguration in a tradition started by FDRCredit: Reuters
Johnson, 69, whose family founded the Johnson and Johnson corporation, was a major contributor to Trump’s campaign.
In Trump’s home city of New York, Republicans who had gathered to hear party grandee Newt Gingrich cheered as the city’s Republican Chairman Ed Cox boasted “a kid from Queens was going to be the next US President”.
Gingrich, 73, said: “It’s going to be a remarkable couple of days.”
The running order
1PM (all times GMT): Donald and Melania will attend a private service at St John’s Episcopal Church opposite the White House, a tradition started by FDR in 1933.
2.30PM: The Trumps, along with Vice- President elect Mike Pence and his wife Karen, will join Barack and Michelle Obama for coffee at the White House.
3PM: Trump and Obama will ride together the two miles to the Capitol building.
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Donald Trump will ride with President Barack Obama to his inauguration ceremony - and other ex-Presidents are also expected to attendCredit: Reuters
4.30PM: The ceremony begins. Mr Pence will take the oath of office first, repeating as it is read to him by Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.
5PM: Trump will take the oath. He is now president. Like those before him, he will be expected to deliver a landmark speech.
5.30PM: The ceremony ends. The new President and Vice-President will have lunch inside the Capitol’s Sanctuary Hall.
8PM: Donald and Melania will lead a procession along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House where they will take their seats in a viewing stand to watch more than 8,000 soldiers, floats and marching bands.
MIDNIGHT: Trump will attend three separate black-tie parties where he will dance with the First Lady.
'Obama jumbled the words'
THE swearing of the oath marks the official moment a President takes office and is read by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The 35-word oath of office must be read exactly as it appears in the Constitution.
President Obama jumbled the words at his first inauguration and had to take it again the next day in the White House.
Presidents usually select a Bible of personal significance on which to swear.
The oath is: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Transforming the White House
WHEN the Obamas leave the White House for the ceremony, staff have a frenzied few hours to transform it for the new family.
The Obamas possessions are moved out under Secret Service guard while the Trumps’ are brought in at the same time.
The residence is cleaned and new paintings hung and light fittings installed. Clothes are put in drawers and wardrobes.
Pantries are filled and the First Family’s personal products are put in place.
Films are put in the private cinema and the bowling alley gets a set of new shoes.
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