Trump, Melania arrive at St. John’s Church
Melania Trump and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrive for services at St. John’s Church as part of Inauguration ceremonies on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
Scott Olson | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump arrived at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square for a church service.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife Usha are also attending.
After the service, Trump and Melania are scheduled to have tea at the White House with Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
US President-elect Donald Trump, center, and former First Lady Melania Trump arrive for mass at St. Johns Church ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Tierney L. Cross | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Usha Vance and Vice President-elect, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) arrive for service at St. John’s Church as part of Inauguration ceremonies on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greets U.S. Vice President-elect JD Vance as they attend a service at St. John’s Church on the inauguration day of his second Presidential term in Washington, U.S. January 20, 2025.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Trump expected to strip protections for potentially thousands of federal workers
The dome of the Capitol is seen through a security fence on a day where a potential government shutdown looms during the holidays after a spending bill backed by Donald Trump failed in the U.S. House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 20, 2024.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Trump has repeatedly signaled that he plans to sign an executive order today to strip protections for potentially thousands of federal workers.
By reinstating the order Trump issued in his first term, known as Schedule F, it could be easier for the new administration to fire many government workers. That’s because the new category of federal workers won’t have the same rights as career civil servants, including an immunity from random termination.
The executive order is seen by Trump officials as one step toward the president’s plan to dismantle what Trump calls the “deep state” and federal bureaucracy.
It could also allow the president to install workers who promise to carry out his agenda.
— Annie Nova
The Trumps’ meme coins are helping push Bitcoin to new record highs
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Bitcoin.
Cheney Orr | Dado Ruvic | Reuters
Bitcoin hit a new all-time high overnight after the Trumps each launched their own meme coins in the past few days.
As of 8:15 a.m. ET, the flagship cryptocurrency was up nearly 1% at $106,522.98, according to Coin Metrics.
Trump launched the “Official Trump” meme coin Friday, which has risen to a $10.6 billion market cap and surged more than 659%, according to data from CoinGecko and Coinbase.
Melania Meme has hit a $1.3 billion market cap and 14% price increase since its launch Sunday night. It has attracted $7.3 billion in trading volumes over the last day, compared to the Trump meme’s $31 billion.
Meme coins are considered the riskiest corner of the already risky cryptocurrency market.
But the Trumps’ coin launches are giving traders confidence that the incoming administration will be positive for the industry.
— Tanaya Macheel
Biden pardons Fauci, Gen. Milley, Jan. 6 committee members
US President Joe Biden delivers remarks at a Department of Defense Commander in Chief Farewell Ceremony at Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 16, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt | AFP | Getty Images
On his final morning in office, President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the members of Congress and staff of the J6 committee, and officers who testified before them.
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden said in a statement.
(COMBO) This combination of file pictures created on December 5, 2024 shows (L-R) US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley on April 21, 2023 and Dr. Anthony Fauci on December 9, 2022.
Getty Images
“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families,” said Biden.
“That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee.”
— Christina Wilkie
Trump to call for a ‘revolution of common sense’
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on Nov. 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Trump’s inaugural address will feature a memorable line calling for a “revolution of common sense,” reports Kristen Welker, host of NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country,” Trump will say, according to an incoming White House official.
“Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense,” Trump will tell the audience assembled in the rotunda.
“My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization,” the incoming president will say.
— Christina Wilkie and NBC News’ Kristen Welker
The Trumps had a late night on the town
Elon Musk (L), Ivanka Trump (2L) and Jeff Bezos (R) talk before US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a candlelight dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2025, a day before his inauguration ceremony.
Jim Watson | Afp | Getty Images
Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump were out on the town last night until late, attending a black-tie “candlelight dinner” at the National Building Museum with the who’s who of Washington’s new Trump establishment.
Guests included Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez, philanthropist and Trump mega-donor Miriam Adelson, incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump, Jr. and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson, Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump, and Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and incoming second lady Usha Vance were also there, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Trump HHS pick Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Melania Trump watches her husband, US President-elect Donald Trump, speak at a candlelight dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2025, a day before his inauguration ceremony.
Jim Watson | Afp | Getty Images
The incoming president arrived at the museum around 9 p.m. ET, and left shortly after 11:30 p.m. He delivered brief remarks and thanked supporters. Save for the few minutes of Trump’s remarks, the dinner was closed to press.
— Christina Wilkie
Elon Musk met with China’s vice president on the sidelines of the inauguration
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Co-Chair of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arrives on Capitol Hill on December 05, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
Elon Musk met with China’s vice president, Han Zheng, who is in town for the Trump inauguration.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Han “welcomed Tesla and other U.S. companies to seize opportunities and share the fruits of China’s development.”
In turn, Musk expressed “Tesla’s willingness to deepen its investment and cooperation in China and to play an active role in promoting China-U.S. economic and trade exchanges,” said the ministry.
Tesla’s largest single assembly plant is in Shanghai, and the company is a fierce competitor in China’s EV market.
Han also met with Vance and with U.S.- China business groups.
— Christina Wilkie
The theme of Trump’s inaugural address will be ‘unity’
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally the day before he is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term, in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2025.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Trump will deliver his second inaugural address immediately after he is sworn in today around noon. The theme of the speech will be “unity,” Trump told Kristen Welker, host of NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“It’s going to be a message of unity,” said Trump. “We’re going to be talking about unity, and we’re going to be talking about success, making our country safe,” he said. “Basically it’s going to be about bringing our country together.”
“And no ‘American carnage’?” asked Welker, quoting the most memorable line of Trump’s first inaugural address.
“No American carnage, no,” Trump replied.
— Christina Wilkie
Here is the full schedule of inauguration events
The Rotunda is prepared for the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 18, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
The Trump Vance inaugural committee has provided a sequence of events for today.
Much of the timing is fluid, but we know that Trump will assume the presidency at precisely 12:00 p.m. ET, and that his oath of office will be administered right before that.
Below is the committee schedule, modified slightly to add an event at the Capital One Arena in place of the traditional outdoor parade.
Monday, January 20, 2025
– St. John’s Church Service
– Tea at the White House
– Swearing-In Ceremony: US Capitol
– Farewell to the Former President and Vice President
– US Capitol Departure Ceremony
– The President’s Signing Room Ceremony
– JCCIC Congressional Luncheon
– Event at Capital One Arena [added to schedule]
– Oval Office Signing Ceremony at The White House
– Commander in Chief Ball: President Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks
– Liberty Inaugural Ball: President Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks
– Starlight Ball: President Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks
— Christina Wilkie
