Today in Washington, Donald Trump will take the oath of office as president of the United States, returning to the White House for a second term four years after his first attempt at reelection failed.
At noon (1900 GMT), two and a half months after defeating departing Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election, Trump, a Republican, will take over the nation’s top political position from outgoing President Joe Biden.
Biden had defeated Trump in 2020, but stepped aside as the Democratic candidate mid-campaign in July amid intense concerns about his age and mental fitness.
Trump, who has long refused to acknowledge his defeat in the 2020 election, ultimately stayed away from Biden’s swearing-in ceremony in January 2021, breaking with tradition.
READ ALSO: Gaza ceasefire: WHO, others upscale humanitarian deliveries, emergency health plan
Earlier that month, Trump’s insistence that he won and that his “victory” was stolen from him led to the storming of the Capitol in Washington, the seat of the U.S. Congress, by his supporters.
Biden, on the other hand, is set to attend the ceremony as per tradition.
In the morning, Trump is scheduled to attend a service at St. John’s Church in Washington.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the Bidens are then set to receive the Trumps for tea at the White House.
The inauguration was originally meant to take place outside on the west side of the Capitol as usual, but was relocated indoors as Washington was experiencing stuck in sub-zero temperatures.
After taking the oath of office, Trump will deliver his inaugural speech as the 47th President of the United States of America.
