£73m Trump ceremony

A record £73million has been raised in donations for Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The amount raised by his Presidential Inaugural Committee is far more than that collected by President Barack Obama’s two inaugural committees.

They raised £45million in 2009 and £35million in 2013.

But while Mr Trump has raised more money than any president in history, he aims to do less with it.

Lead inaugural planner Tom Barrack said Mr Trump’s team wants to avoid a “circus-like atmosphere” in favour of a more “back to work” mindset.

Mr Trump’s committee has declined to provide details on how it is aiming to spend its hefty sum.

Steve Kerrigan, chief executive for Mr Obama’s inaugural committee in 2013 and chief of staff in 2009, said the amount raised looks like overkill.

He added: “I can’t imagine how they are going to spend that amount of money – and why they would even keep raising money.

“We planned the two largest inaugurations in the history of our country and we never spent anywhere near that.”

Mr Trump this week promised a “very, very elegant day”.

They will arrive to find a party that is not nearly as involved as Mr Obama’s.

The president-elect is holding three inaugural balls; Mr Obama had 10 balls at his first inaugural.

Mr Trump’s team also hopes to keep its parade to 90 minutes.

The president-elect’s inaugural team has also failed to attract the kind of A-list performers who turned out in force for Mr Obama.

Mr Trump has announced that headliners are teen singer Jackie Evancho, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Radio City Rockettes.

Spokesman Boris Epshteyn said the inaugural committee is “fully focused on organising world-class events that honour our nation’s tremendous history and reach every corner of the globe”.

Any excess money raised will be donated to charity.

Mr Obama used his excess inaugural dollars to help pay for the White House Easter egg roll and other events in his first term, Mr Kerrigan said.

Mr Trump has not specified which charities might benefit from any leftover cash.

His committee has 90 days after the inauguration to reveal its donors, although some presidents have reported donations as they came in.

A few contributors are already known. Among corporate donors are Boeing and Chevron.

While a big share of the cost is covered by the private donations, taxpayers provide a considerable amount as well.

They are expected, to cover the close to £4million cost of building the 10,000sq-ft platform on the west front of the Capitol for the swearingin.

The public also pays security costs.

President Obama wipes his tears during his farewell address