Honestly, walking into the 2025 inauguration felt different. It wasn't just the freezing D.C. wind that forced the whole ceremony into the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for the first time in decades. It was the vibe. If you were looking for who spoke at the inauguration this year, you probably noticed it wasn't the usual "strictly politics" affair. It was a mix of high-stakes policy talk, country music legends, and a heavy dose of religious variety.
Basically, the 60th Presidential Inauguration was a massive logistics pivot that ended up feeling way more intimate—and a lot more crowded—than anybody expected.
The Big One: Donald Trump’s Inaugural Address
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. President Donald J. Trump delivered the main event. His speech lasted about 30 minutes, which is actually kind of a middle-of-the-road length for him. He leaned hard into the "Golden Age of America" theme. He didn't mince words, basically telling the crowd that "America's decline is over" from that very second.
You’ve probably heard the term "American Carnage" from his 2017 speech. This time, he traded that dark imagery for what he called "Liberation Day." He touched on energy, specifically "liquid gold" (oil), and made some pretty bold promises about cutting prices. It was classic Trump—high energy, polarizing for many, but exactly what his base was there to hear.
The Religious Lineup (It Was a Full House)
One thing most people get wrong about these events is thinking there's just one prayer. This year, the stage was practically a revolving door of clergy.
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Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, kicked things off with the invocation. He’s a familiar face at these things, having done the honors back in 2017 too. He notably mentioned Martin Luther King Jr., which was a nod to the holiday falling on the same day.
Then you had Rev. Franklin Graham. If you know his history, you know he’s been a massive supporter of the President for years. His prayer was incredibly personal, talking about how God "saved" Trump during the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The benediction—the closing prayers—was a bit of an interfaith marathon:
- Rabbi Ari Berman: The president of Yeshiva University.
- Imam Husham Al Husainy: From the Karbalaa Islamic Center (his inclusion sparked quite a bit of chatter in the news cycles later).
- Pastor Lorenzo Sewell: A senior pastor from Detroit who’s become a key figure in Trump’s outreach. He famously called the President's survival a "millimeter miracle."
- Rev. Father Frank Mann: A Catholic priest from Brooklyn who is actually a personal friend of the President.
Who Took the Oath? (The Formal Speakers)
While they don't give "speeches" in the traditional sense, the people administering the oaths are the legal backbone of the whole day.
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Chief Justice John Roberts did the honors for Donald Trump. It's his fifth time doing a presidential swearing-in, which is a wild stat if you think about it. Meanwhile, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh stepped up to swear in JD Vance as the 50th Vice President.
The Performances: Country Stars and Opera
If you were watching for the entertainment, the lineup was very "Nashville-meets-The-Met."
Carrie Underwood was the biggest surprise for a lot of people. She did a soul-stirring a cappella version of "America the Beautiful" right after the inaugural address. It was one of those moments where the room actually went quiet.
Then you had the regulars. Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless the U.S.A." as Trump walked out—because honestly, would it even be a Trump event without that song? Christopher Macchio, an opera singer who has become a staple at Trump rallies, handled "O America!" and the National Anthem.
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The Tech Titans in the Front Row
Wait, why are we talking about people who didn't speak? Because in 2025, the guest list was the story. Even though they weren't at the podium, guys like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook were all seated on the dais.
It’s pretty rare to see that much Silicon Valley firepower at a swearing-in. They were essentially "speaking" with their presence, signaling a massive shift in how the tech world is looking to work with this administration.
Why the Indoor Move Mattered
Because of the "freezing temperatures" (it was a legit polar vortex situation), the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies moved the whole thing into the Rotunda.
This changed everything. Usually, you have hundreds of thousands of people on the National Mall. This year, the "crowd" was restricted to a few hundred VIPs, former presidents (including Biden, Obama, Bush, and Clinton), and family members. It made the speeches sound louder and the atmosphere much more intense.
What to Watch for Next
Now that the ceremony is over, the real work starts. If you're tracking the impact of these speeches, keep an eye on these specific points:
- Executive Orders: Watch for the "Day 1" energy policies mentioned in the speech.
- Trade Shifts: The talk about "taxing foreign countries" (tariffs) is going to be the main friction point in Congress this month.
- Cabinet Confirmations: Many of the people sitting behind the President during the speeches, like RFK Jr. or Marco Rubio, are heading into what might be some very spicy confirmation hearings.
If you want to dig deeper into the actual transcript of the address, the White House usually posts the official version within 24 hours. It's worth a read just to see how much the "Golden Age" rhetoric matches up with the legislative agenda coming down the pipe.