If you’ve been looking at your calendar and wondering exactly when things get official in D.C., you aren't alone. Honestly, there was a ton of chatter leading up to it, but the date is actually set in stone by the Constitution.
What day is the inauguration 2025? It fell on Monday, January 20, 2025.
It’s a bit of a weird one because that date also happened to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day. That doesn't happen often—it was actually only the third time in history that a presidential inauguration landed right on the MLK holiday. Most people think these events are always held outdoors on the massive West Front of the Capitol, but 2025 threw a major curveball that basically changed everything for the people on the ground.
Why 2025 Wasn't Your Typical Inauguration Day
Usually, you see the President-elect standing out in the wind, looking over a sea of people on the National Mall. Not this time. Washington D.C. got hit with some seriously brutal weather—freezing temperatures and high winds that made staying outside genuinely dangerous for the crowds and the dignitaries.
Because of that, the swearing-in ceremony for Donald Trump’s second term was moved inside to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
If you’re a history nerd, you might remember that this has happened before. The last time they had to scramble and move the whole thing inside because of the cold was way back in 1985 for Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration. It changes the whole vibe. Instead of 200,000 people watching from the lawn, you have about 600 people packed into a circular room with some of the most famous paintings in American history on the walls.
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The Schedule That Actually Happened
The day followed a pretty tight script, even with the last-minute indoor shift:
- Morning: The President-elect and his family attended a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church (often called the "Church of the Presidents").
- Tea Time: There was a brief meeting and tea at the White House with the outgoing President, Joe Biden.
- The Big Moment: At precisely 12:00 p.m. ET, the swearing-in ceremony began.
- The Parade: Because it was so cold, the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue was mostly scrapped. Instead, they moved the celebration to the Capital One Arena so people could actually stay warm while watching the marching bands.
Who Showed Up (And Who Sang)
You’ve probably heard that booking talent for these things can be a political minefield. For 2025, the lineup was a mix of country staples and some surprising names. Carrie Underwood was the big headliner, singing "America the Beautiful" right after the inaugural address.
But it wasn't just country stars.
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Opera singer Christopher Macchio did the National Anthem, and the Village People (yes, really) performed at the "MAGA Victory Rally" the night before and at the Liberty Ball. It's kinda wild to think about the "Y.M.C.A." playing at an official presidential event, but that’s the 2025 reality for you.
On the tech side, the guest list looked like a Silicon Valley board meeting. You had Elon Musk (obviously), but also Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Seeing that many billionaires in one room is pretty rare, even for D.C.
The Lockdown: Security Like Never Before
If you tried to get anywhere near the "Red Zone" on January 20, you know it was a nightmare. This was classified as a SEAR 1 National Security Event. Basically, that’s the highest level of security the U.S. government has.
The Secret Service basically turned a huge chunk of the city into a fortress.
- Fencing everywhere.
- 25,000 National Guard and police officers.
- No drones allowed (obviously).
- Even stuff like laptops and large bags were banned from the viewing areas.
There were a ton of protests planned—some estimates said nearly 100 different groups—but the "security bubble" was so tight that most of the activity stayed well away from the Capitol itself.
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Actionable Takeaways for Future Inaugurations
If you’re planning to attend an inauguration in the future (the next one is in 2029), here is the "insider" advice based on what happened in 2025:
- Book your hotel a year in advance. Seriously. By January 2025, hotels were 97% full, and the prices were astronomical.
- Pack for the worst weather imaginable. 2025 proved that the "outdoor ceremony" is never a guarantee. If it moves indoors, and you don't have a special ticket for the Rotunda, you'll be watching on a screen in an arena or a bar.
- Ditch the car. Between the road closures and the security checkpoints, driving is a lost cause. The Metro is the only way to move, but even then, expect to wait in lines that wrap around the block.
- Check the "Prohibited Items" list early. People were losing expensive gear at the 2025 checkpoints because they didn't realize umbrellas or certain camera tripods weren't allowed.
The 60th Presidential Inauguration was a massive logistical feat that proved one thing: in D.C., the Constitution is predictable, but the weather is absolutely not.