Donald Trump kicked off the ceremonies for his historic second inauguration alongside wife Melania, son Barron and his family at a church service just hours before his swearing-in.
The president-elect took the front row of St. John’s Episcopal Church – just a block away from the White House – and smiled to his Vice President J.D. Vance, who was sat alongside wife Usha.
The president-elect, wearing a suit and dark red tie, shook his fist to photographers as he stepped out of the crowd. Melania, in a navy blue suit and matching hat with white trim, was at his side. Their son Barron walked with them.
The Trump family joined them inside the church – Ivanka and Jared Kushner and their kids; Don Jr., his ex-wife Vanessa and their kids; Tiffany Trump and husband Michael Boulos; and Eric and Lara Trump and their two children.
Incoming Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha sat in the front pew with Donald, Melania and Barron.
Also in the church were Rupert Murdoch, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, Sean Duffy, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Elon Musk, Rep. Mike Waltz, Pam Bondi, Howard Lutnick, Doug Burgum, and Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Melania Trump and President-elect Donald Trump are greeted by Rev. Robert W. Fisher as they arrive for service at St. John’s Church
Barron Trump follows parents Melania Trump and Donald Trump into church
Donald Trump chats with J.D. Vance and Usha Vance as Melania and Baron look on
After the church ceremony, Donald and Melania will make the short trip to the White House to have tea with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
The two couples will then ride together to Capitol Hill for Trump’s swearing-in as president.
The ceremony has been moved inside the Capitol rotunda due to the below-freezing weather and cold winds in Washington D.C. Much of the ground is frozen and icy from Sunday’s rain and snow fall.
Biden and Trump haven’t spoken since shortly after the election, when Biden welcomed the president-elect to the Oval Office.
Trump, in the interim, has blasted the outgoing president for being ‘sneaky’ during the transition process by setting up a series of roadblocks designed to hinder his first days in office.
Biden, for his part, started off the morning with a series of preemptive pardons for those who might face Trump retribution: General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Rep. Liz Cheney.
He got a final security briefing as commander in chief. After Trump is sworn in, the Bidens will board Marine One at the Capitol and head to Joint Base Andrews, where Biden will give farewell remarks. The couple then heads to California for some time with family.
President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump, Victor Knavs arrive for a service at St. John’s Church – at left are Vice President-elect JD Vance and Usha Vance
Meta and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (L) CEO of Apple Tim Cook, Founder of Amazon and Blue Origin Jeff Bezos at church with Trump
Ivanka Trump with her children
Melania Trump wears a navy suit and hat as she enters church with Donald Trump
US Vice President-elect JD Vance and Usha Vance and the rest of the guests at St. John’s Episcopal Church wait for Donald Trump’s arrival
Ivanka Trump with Arabella, Joseph and Theodore
Tiffany Trump with husband Michael Boulos – the couple is expecting their first child
Trump has been in Washington D.C. since Saturday, celebrating his second term in office. He and his supporters celebrated with fireworks at his Trump Golf Club in Sterling, Va.
On Sunday, he addressed supporters at a rally at the Capitol One Arena. And then he joined supporters at a candlelight dinner.
When Trump returns to the White House on Monday afternoon, it will be as president of the United States.
He plans an immediate blitz of executive orders, designed to overturn many Biden initiatives. He’ll have a crackdown on illegal immigration, put tariffs on trading partners and pardon supporters who were prosecuted for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.