The question of what time will Donald Trump be sworn in as president isn’t just about a clock hitting a certain number. It's about a constitutional handoff that is timed down to the very second. Honestly, the 20th Amendment is pretty blunt about it: the term of the President ends at noon on January 20th. Period.
So, if you're looking for the short answer, Donald Trump is scheduled to take the oath of office at approximately 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, January 20, 2025. But as anyone who has watched these things knows, the "noon" rule is the legal hard line, while the ceremony itself is a whole production that starts much earlier. D.C. is already a hive of activity. Barriers are up. The "President-elect" title is about to expire, and the "47th President" title is waiting in the wings.
The Exact Timing: What Time Will Donald Trump Be Sworn In As President?
The main event happens on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol—usually. However, for 2025, there was a major pivot. Because of some seriously frigid weather and high winds forecasted for the district, the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee made the call to move the actual swearing-in ceremony indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
That changes the vibe, for sure. Instead of the massive sprawling crowd on the National Mall looking up at the platform, it’s a much tighter, more intimate (and much warmer) affair under the dome.
Here is how the morning usually shakes out leading up to that noon deadline:
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- 9:30 a.m. ET: The musical performances kick off. This is the "get in your seats" music.
- 11:30 a.m. ET: The official program starts. This includes opening remarks, often led by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). For 2025, Senator Amy Klobuchar was tapped to lead the proceedings.
- Roughly 11:45 a.m. ET: J.D. Vance takes the Vice Presidential oath. This is administered by Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
- 12:00 p.m. ET: Donald Trump takes the Presidential oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts.
It’s worth noting that the moment the clock strikes 12:00:00, the nuclear codes transfer. Even if the Chief Justice is a slow talker and they are still mid-oath, the legal authority shifts at that exact moment. Trump becomes the 47th President regardless of where he is in the sentence.
Who Is Administering the Oaths?
The Constitution doesn't actually say the Chief Justice has to do it, but tradition is a powerful thing in D.C. Chief Justice John Roberts will be the one holding the Bible for Trump. This is actually Roberts’ fifth time doing a presidential oath.
For J.D. Vance, the choice was Justice Brett Kavanaugh. This is a bit of a "full circle" moment, considering Trump nominated Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court back in 2018. It’s pretty common for Vice Presidents to pick a Justice they have a personal or professional connection with.
The 2025 Inaugural Schedule: Beyond the Oath
Once the "I do" of politics is over, the day doesn't just stop. It actually ramps up.
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The Inaugural Address
Immediately after the swearing-in, President Trump will deliver his inaugural address. This is the big "vision" speech. Historically, these can be short (George Washington’s second was only 135 words) or long (William Henry Harrison’s was over 8,000 words—and he famously caught pneumonia and died a month later). Trump’s 2017 speech was about 16 minutes long. Expect something high-energy as he lays out the "Day One" agenda.
The Signing Ceremony
Right after the speech, the new President heads to the President’s Room just off the Senate Chamber. This is where he signs his first official acts—nominations for his Cabinet and usually a few executive orders to show he's hitting the ground running.
The Luncheon and the "Pass in Review"
Then comes the food. There’s a traditional luncheon in Statuary Hall with members of Congress and the Supreme Court. After they eat, the President and Vice President head to the East Front steps to watch a "Pass in Review." This is a military tradition where they basically "inspect" the troops that will be escorting them.
The Indoor Parade
Here’s another 2025 twist. Usually, there’s a massive parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. But because of that "polar vortex" weather, the 2025 parade was moved to the Capital One Arena. It’s a bit of a break from tradition, but it keeps the marching bands (and the fans) from freezing.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Inauguration Day
A lot of folks think the President becomes the President the moment they win the election. Or maybe when the Electoral College votes in December. Nope.
Until 12:00 p.m. on January 20th, Joe Biden is still the President. He still has the "football" (the nuclear satchel). He still has the authority to sign laws or issue pardons. There is a weird "lame duck" period where the President-elect is getting briefed on everything but has zero power to actually do anything.
Also, people often ask if the oath has to be taken on a Bible. The answer is no. Most do, but you can technically use any book or just "affirm" the oath without a book at all. Teddy Roosevelt didn't use a Bible in 1901 because his swearing-in was an emergency after William McKinley was assassinated.
Actionable Steps for Following the Day
If you're planning to watch or are just trying to keep up with the news, here's how to stay on top of the timing:
- Check the Feed Early: Most major networks (CNN, FOX, NPR) start their live streams as early as 9:00 a.m. ET. If you want to see the arrivals—which is where the real fashion and "who's talking to whom" drama happens—you’ll want to be tuned in by 10:30 a.m.
- Watch the 12:00 Mark: If you only have five minutes, tune in at 11:55 a.m. ET. That’s the "money shot" window where the actual transfer of power happens.
- Follow the Executive Orders: Keep an eye on the news around 2:00 p.m. ET. That’s usually when the first details of the newly signed executive orders start leaking out from the signing ceremony.
- Security Closures: If you happen to be in D.C., basically the entire "Red Zone" around the Capitol and the Mall is locked down. Don't even try to drive. Use the Metro, but check for station closures first—Pentagon and certain Mall-adjacent stops often shut down for the day.
The timing of what time Donald Trump will be sworn in as president is a fixed point in an otherwise chaotic political cycle. Whether it's in the Rotunda or on the steps, the clock is the one thing that doesn't care about politics. At noon, the 47th presidency officially begins.
Next Steps:
- Monitor the official Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) website for any last-minute adjustments to the indoor program.
- If you're looking for the text of the speech, the White House website usually uploads the official transcript within minutes of the President finishing his remarks.