TAKE YOUR SEATS FOR $200m INAUGURATION
An oath sworn with his Scottish mum’s Bible. The first dance to My Way. And a LOT of hairspray — your guide to Trump’s $200m coronation ...
ADAY of national celebration and political unity, it is an event watched by millions that brings Americans of all political persuasions together to celebrate the peaceful transition of power. However, there will be little uniting the United States at today’s inauguration of America’s 45th President, Donald John Trump.
Not only are stars of screen and stage boycotting the event, but even some senior politicians, too. And a capital city that Mr Trump denigrated as a ‘swamp’ is hosting far fewer inauguration parties than usual, despite Mr Trump’s claims that all the dress shops in town had sold out of evening gowns.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is predicting that around 900,000 people will descend on Washington DC — some of them protesters keen to jeer rather than cheer — which is half what Mr Obama drew for his first inauguraton. A total of 250,000 free tickets have proved hard to shift, with Mr Trump resorting to Facebook this week, urging people to attend.
And yet, even a President-elect as unconventional as Donald Trump has to knuckle under when it comes to the pomp, ceremony and rigid traditions of an extravaganza estimated to cost up to $200 million (£163 million).
Mr Trump is promising a ‘very, very elegant day’ (and no doubt hoping that with his famous coiffure sprayed firmly into place, it won’t be ruined by a stray gust of wind).
His supporters are determined not to let anything spoil their triumphal takeover of a city that epitomises everything they despise about the U.S. Establishment. And they are going to relish every minute of it.
THE SWEARING-IN
12 noon (5pm GMT) AT NOON, the incoming President will recite the following oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, outside the West Front of the Capitol: ‘I do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.’
This is also the moment President Obama formally leaves office.
Mr Trump is not required to swear on the Bible but he says it is his favourite book and he will place his hand on the burgundy velvet-bound copy used by Abraham Lincoln. He will also have with him the Bible his Lewis-born mother, Mary MacLeod, gave him when he was nine.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence will be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the first African-American to administer the oath.
THE ADDRESS
FIRST U.S. President George Washington’s second inaugural address in 1793 was just 135 words long. Ninth president William Henry Harrison managed the longest, lasting one hour 45 minutes.
Trump, a master of the short, sharp message on Twitter rather than soaring rhetoric, has indicated that he’ll speak for 20 minutes on the theme ‘Uniquely American’, and has relied heavily on the words of Stephen Miller, 31, author of the few but fiery pre-written Trump speeches on the campaign trail.
Lincoln appealed to the ‘better angels of our nature’ in his address. Many Americans would love to hear Trump echo his inclusive words.
CELEBRITY NO-SHOWS
CELEBRITIES led by Beyonce (rebuked for lip-synching), Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin fought to be a part of the Obama inauguration celebrations, but showbusiness A-listers have fled in terror from this one.
Elton John, Celine Dion, Justin Timberlake, Charlotte Church, the DJ and singer Moby and Rebecca Ferguson, an X Factor runner-up from Liverpool, are all reported to have turned down invitations. Broadway star Jennifer Holliday said yes, then changed her mind after her gay and lesbian fans revolted.
Even the B Street Band, a Springsteen cover ensemble, pulled out. In their place will be the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Jackie Evancho, a 16-year-old former contestant on the TV show America’s Got Talent, will sing the national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
Tom Barrack, chairman of the inauguration committee, has put a brave face on the celebrity drought and says today will have ‘much more poetic cadence’ without the celebrity ‘circus’.
THE GUESTS AND POLITICAL NO-SHOWS
THE Left-leaning liberals of Hollywood were always going to give Trump the cold shoulder; but, rather more dramatically, members of the House of Representatives (the lower chamber of Congress, similar to the House of Commons) plan to boycott the inauguration.
At least 60 Democrat congressmen will be absent, citing Trump’s divisive policies, his pro-Putin stance and his criticism of congressman and civil rights campaigner John Lewis.
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court, diplomats, past presidents including Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, George W. Bush and his wife Laura, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Jimmy Carter will be in attendance. Britain will be represented by its Ambassador to the U.S. Sir Kim Darroch. Of Trump’s British friends, Ukip’s Nigel Farage will be there but Piers Morgan will not.
THE LUNCH
CONGRESS hosts lunch for the new President and 200 guests in the Capitol Building. On the menu is Maine lobster, Angus beef in a dark chocolate juniper jus, and chocolate souffle washed down with Californian ‘champagne’, followed by a string of toasts from Democrat and Republican congressional leaders who have spent the past year demonising Trump.
Rumours that Trump might go on a walkabout among the crowds are wide of the mark because of the security nightmare for the 28,000 police and security on the ground.
THE PARADE
3pm (8pm GMT) EIGHT thousand marchers from 40 groups — ranging from high school bands to mounted police officers, Scouts and disabled military veterans — will process along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
Critics say the parade is likely to be shorter (it usually lasts about two hours) ‘and whiter’ than those for Obama. Trump aides insist it is shorter because Mr Trump wants to get straight to work behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
THE BALLS
7pm (12 midnight GMT) IN 1913, President Woodrow Wilson dismissed the official ball as unnecessary and expensive. A Ku Klux Klan supporter, he also expressed concern that guests would indulge in ‘vulgar’ African-American dances such as ‘turkey-trotting, bunny hugging or grizzly bear gyrations’.
Trump is not a party man either, and he and his wife Melania will just ‘pop in’ to the three official events. Some 32,000 guests will attend two balls, called Liberty and Freedom respectively, at the Walter E.
Washington Convention Centre. The third, salute To Our Armed services, honours the military and emergency services.
Yesterday it was announced that Chicago-born Irish dancer Michael Flatley will appear at the Liberty ball — and the Trumps will have their first dance to Frank sinatra’s My Way.
Unofficial balls include the $250a-head DeploraBall (a reference to hillary Clinton calling Trump supporters ‘deplorable’) for hardcore conservatives. Nigel Farage and Arron Banks, the British businessman who bankrolled the Brexit campaign, will host a party for 400 at the hay-Adams hotel.
The party shortage is blamed on security concerns in a city that gave Trump just 4 per cent of its vote, say organisers. however, lobbying and law firms that traditionally throw parties refuse to celebrate a president who targeted them in his pledge to ‘drain the swamp’ of Washington.
THE DAY AFTER
PResIDeNT Trump will attend a multifaith prayer service at Washington’s episcopal National Cathedral on saturday morning.
Muslim, evangelical, Orthodox Christian, sikh and Jewish leaders were present at the 2013 event for Obama. however, Donald Trump’s views on Muslims and immigrants has hit the list of attendees.
some Christians have criticised the cathedral authorities for agreeing to participate.
THE PROTESTS
AT LeAsT 63 protest groups — both pro and anti-Trump — are expected in Washington DC tomorrow.
The flag-waving, leather-clad members of Bikers For Trump promise a ‘wall of meat’ to protect their president.
In the opposing corner there will be the Women’s March, with at least 200,000 marching in protest at a new ‘misogynistic’ president who has bragged about groping women.