Categories: Donald Trump

YMCA, Kid Rock, and that garbage truck: Inside Trump’s inauguration fest

With just hours remaining before the inauguration of Donald Trump, 78, as the 47th President of the United States, anticipation is building.

On Monday, the Republican will place his left hand on two Bibles—one from his mother and another from Abraham Lincoln—while raising his right hand to take the oath of office. These 35 words will officially mark the beginning of “Trump II.”

The U.S. Capitol looms over members of “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band during the rehearsal of President-elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Ceremony and Celebrations

Following the swearing-in, Trump will outline his initial plans in a speech. A congressional lunch and the traditional parade to the White House will follow, with Trump and First Lady Melania potentially walking part of the way along Pennsylvania Avenue.

This time, Team Trump has gathered an even larger roster of stars, including country icons Carrie Underwood and Billy Ray Cyrus, and rocker Kid Rock.

A worker moves chairs into place during the rehearsal on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

The Village People will perform their hit “Y.M.C.A.,” which became a MAGA anthem during Trump’s campaign. The celebrations will also highlight Trump’s political comeback and his survival of the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

And then there’s the garbage truck—a lingering symbol of a Biden gaffe and a Trump political win.

After comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s controversial remark about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally, Biden seemingly labeled all Trump supporters “garbage,” though the White House claimed he referred only to Hinchcliffe. The comment went viral.

The next day, Trump donned a neon vest and climbed into a garbage truck during a campaign stop in Wisconsin.

Now, that truck will roll through his inaugural parade.

Workers install security fencing around the Ellipse near the White House ahead of the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Security and Weather Challenges

Washington has been fortified with extensive security, including 8,000 National Guard soldiers supporting the Secret Service. However, weather forecasts of -5°C and wind gusts make this the coldest inauguration in 40 years.

High-Profile Guests

The ceremony will be attended by political heavyweights, including outgoing President Joe Biden, 82, and former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

Trump also extended invitations to international leaders, such as Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Germany’s AfD leader Tino Chrupalla, as well as prominent tech figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.

Musk, a close advisor to Trump, is expected to draw significant attention.

A Bold Start in Office

After the inauguration, Trump plans an ambitious beginning with 100 executive orders. Priorities include closing the Mexico border, mass deportations, and sweeping changes in policies on vaccinations, energy, and economic regulation.

Symbolic Power Transfer

The “Nuclear Football,” containing the codes for the U.S. nuclear arsenal, underscores the immense power transfer between presidents.

Despite lingering controversies and high expectations, Trump aims to make a statement with his second term, setting the stage for a presidency designed to leave a lasting mark.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.

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