WASHINGTON — Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in Monday as the 47th U.S. president taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.
Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, moved indoors due to intense cold, will begin at noon ET. But festivities will start earlier when the incoming president arrives for service at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Here’s the latest:
Trumps arrive at the White House
President-elect Trump and his wife, Melania, met President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, on a gold-trimmed red carpet, exchanging greetings and posing for photos ahead of a private meeting over tea and coffee.
“Welcome home,” Biden said to Trump after the president-elect stepped out of the car.
Biden wrapped his hand around Trump’s upper arm to escort him inside the mansion.
The private meeting is another presidential transition tradition.
It’s a stark departure from four years ago, when Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory or attend his inauguration.
Chesapeake Crab Cake, Greater Omaha Angus Ribeye Steak and wine from Monticello are on the menu for the inaugural luncheon.
That’s according to the joint congressional committee on inauguration ceremonies headed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
It says the luncheon after the swearing-in ceremony is the 11th to be held at the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, and will include more than 200 guests including the president, vice president, family, U.S. Supreme Court justices, Cabinet Member-designees and members of Congressional leadership.
For dessert, there’s Minnesota Apple Ice Box Terrine with sour cream ice cream and salted caramel.
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Putin congratulates Trump
Speaking during a video call with members of Russia’s Security Council just before Trump’s inauguration, Putin said that “we hear the statements from Trump and members of his team about their desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, which were halted through no fault of ours by the outgoing administration.”
“We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent World War III,” Putin said in televised comments. “We certainly welcome such an approach and congratulate the U.S. president-elect on taking office.”
Putin said Moscow is open to discussing a prospective peace settlement in Ukraine, adding it should lead not to a short truce but a lasting peace and take into account Russia’s interests.
N.Y. governor orders flags to be raised
The move came after a Hochul spokesperson said last week that flags would remain at half-staff following the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
Flags will be returned to half staff on Tuesday, Hochul said in a statement.
“Regardless of your political views, the American tradition of the peaceful transition of power is something to celebrate,” said Hochul, a Democrat.
Iauguration ceremony begins in the Capitol Rotunda
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs kicked off the inaugural ceremonies Monday with a musical prelude. The students wore all black with a red scarf embossed with their university logo.
Their voices echoed into the Capitol dome where in just a few hours Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President.
Trump to sign actions focused on energy and inflation
Trump plans on Monday to sign actions to increase domestic oil production including a measure with a focus on Alaska.
That’s according to an incoming administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity under terms set by the transition team in a phone call with reporters.
Trump also plans to sign a memorandum that seeks an all-of-government approach to bringing down inflation.
The incoming official declined to provide specifics, but it’s unclear just how Trump can reduce energy and household costs without sacrificing growth or corporate profits.
JD Vance arrives at the White House
Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the vice president-elect when he arrived.
Usually, only the president-elect comes to the White House on Inauguration Day before the swearing-in.
Harris and Vance have not yet had a formal one-on-one meeting after the outgoing vice president did not invite him to visit the official residence on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory.
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Harris and Vance were accompanied by their spouses and all shook hands and posed for a picture.
Key people from Trump’s first administration at indoor event
The lineup will include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump’s press secretary, along with former aide Kellyanne Conway and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, who was Trump’s White House physician.
Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and is returning to Trump’s administration as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, is also expected to give remarks.
Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, and Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan will also attend.
The crowd inside the Capital One Arena cheered enthusiastically when the Jumbotrons began broadcasting President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, on their way to the White House.
Some chanted “USA! USA!” but it didn’t catch on with the half-full crowd, drowned out by the speakers playing The Killers song “Mr. Brightside.”
Bidens post final selfie from White House
“One more selfie for the road. We love you, America,” the post on the social platform X read.
Prayer offered for Trump
The prayer for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance asked that God give them “wisdom and strength to know and to do.”
Trump’s team released the video online on Monday ahead of his swearing-in and it portrays him as an outsider who overcame his legal problems to win a comeback to the White House, ushering in a new chapter for America.
The video stitches together footage of his courthouse appearances for his criminal trial last year, his mug shot from another criminal case in Georgia and images of prosecutors and judges involved in some of the other cases he faced, along with images of his visits to UFC matches, his campaign and the Republican National Convention.
In a voice-over, Trump tells his supporters they have to “never ever, ever give up” and “treat the word impossible as nothing more than motivation.”
The video was first reported by Fox News Digital.