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Crowds are arriving in Washington DC ahead of Donald Trump being sworn in for his second term as US president just before 12:00 EST (17:00 GMT)
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The ceremony, traditionally held outside the US Capitol, has been moved indoors due to a forecast of frigid temperatures with a wind chill of -13C (9F)
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Following the oath of office, Trump will address the nation. Later, he is expected to attend three inaugural balls in the evening
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About 200,000 supporters are expected to visit the city to mark the presidential transfer of power
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In his final rally yesterday, Trump promised to sign a blitz of executive orders on his first day as president
Former US Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton will attend the historic ceremony.
In a first, international leaders have been invited to the event. Among the attendees are Argentine President Javier Milei, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Chinese President Xi Jinping declined his invitation, but the Chinese Vice President will represent the country at the ceremony. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also received an invitation but will not attend due to a scheduling conflict.
5th President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili will also attend Trump’s inauguration. She already met with nominee for Secretary of State Marco Rubio and nominee for Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. She also met with the IRI vice president Scott Mastic.
Salome Zurabishvili has already met with the Vice President of the International Republican Institute (IRI) to discuss Georgia’s political challenges and “present demands that will be acceptable to society, new forces, political parties, and non-governmental organizations.”
President Zurabishvili is also scheduled to participate in a January 21 discussion at the Atlantic Council, focusing on Georgia’s political challenges and Russia’s malign influence in the region.
President Zurabishvili said the main message she brings to the D.C. is that the existing regime in Georgia “cannot be a legitimate representative of the Georgian people.” She said: “This is no longer just about elections,” Zurabishvili said. “It is about a regime that has departed from the constitution and no longer bears any sign of democracy or statehood.”
