Inauguration of Donald Trump
The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States marked the commencement of Donald Trump's term as president and Mike Pence's term as vice president.[1] An estimated 300,000 to 600,000[2][3] people attended the public ceremony held on Friday, January 20, 2017, at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The event was the 58th presidential inauguration.[4] Held in Washington, D.C., from January 17 to 21, 2017, inaugural events included concerts, the swearing-in ceremony, a congressional luncheon, parade, inaugural balls, and the interfaith inaugural prayer service. The inauguration was protested worldwide.[5]
Date
January 20, 2017
Donald Trump
45th president of the United States
— Assuming office
John Roberts
Chief Justice of the United States
— Administering oath
Mike Pence
48th vice president of the United States
— Assuming office
Clarence Thomas
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
— Administering oath
Administered by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, the presidential oath was taken by Trump as his first task after becoming president at noon, in keeping with Article Two, Section 1, Clause 8 and the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, with the vice presidential oath taken by Pence and administered by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas immediately preceding it.[6] Trump was sworn in with his left hand on a pair of Bibles: his personal copy and the Lincoln Bible.[7][8] At 70 years, 220 days of age on Inauguration Day, Trump was the oldest person to assume the presidency until he was surpassed by Joe Biden four years later, in 2021.
Context[edit]
The inauguration marked the formal culmination of the presidential transition of Donald Trump that began when he won the U.S. presidential election on November 9, 2016, and became the president-elect.[9] Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, were formally elected by the Electoral College on December 19, 2016.[10][11] The victory was certified by an electoral vote tally by a joint session of Congress on January 6, 2017.[12]