Donald Trump dances to ‘YMCA’ with The Village People at his Washington DC victory rally on Sunday
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailGet our free Inside Washington email
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy
Donald Trump will promise a “thrilling new era” for America in his inaugural address at the US Capitol on Monday after he is sworn-in as the 47th commander-in-chief of the United States.
Trump will become the first president since Grover Cleveland to enter the White House for a non-consecutive second term, with the ceremony driven indoors for the first time since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 by the punishing sub-zero temperatures currently blasting Washington DC.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,” the Republican will say, according to pre-released excerpts of his speech.
“A tide of change is sweeping the country.”
Ahead of the ceremony, the incoming first lady Melania Trump unveiled a new cryptocurrency venture after her husband delivered a campaign-style speech at a “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” at DC’s Capital One Arena on Sunday.
On day one, the president-elect has plans in place to sign more than 200 executive orders – a record – covering everything from border security and energy, but will be forced to do so with only a quarter of the staff he needs.
In pictures: Trump cabinet nominees begin arriving for Inauguration Day church service
(Reuters)
(Reuters)
(Getty)Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:45
Breaking: Biden issues pre-emptive pardons to Dr. Fauci and other Trump targets in one of his final actsPresident Joe Biden has issued pre-emptive pardons to Dr Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley and the members of Congress who served on the House committee that investigated the attempted insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6 2021 in one of his final acts before leaving the White House, anticipating their political persecution by his incoming successor Donald Trump.
President-elect Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at an inauguration ceremony in the Capitol rotunda on Monday afternoon and has previously hinted that he could seek revenge against his numerous political enemies after returning to the Oval Office.
“Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy,” President Biden wrote in a statement announcing his decision.
“Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.
“In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A Milley, Dr. Anthony S Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.”
Here’s the very latest.
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:35
Snoop Dogg fans appalled by performance at Trump inauguration partyThe one and only D-O double G (real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr) was filmed performing his classic track “Nuthin’ but a G Thang” at the first-ever “Crypto Ball” in celebration of Trump’s inauguration, a party hosted by David Sacks, former PayPal COO and the incoming White House AI and crypto czar.
After previously mocking the president-elect, Snoop switched allegiances last year to praise Trump and claim he “has done only great things” for him.
Here’s Tom Murray on the fallout among his fans.
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:25
Why Michelle Obama is skipping Trump’s inaugurationThe former first lady has made it clear she wants nothing to do with Donald Trump, having warned at the Democratic convention last year that he poses as a threat to American democracy.
Here’s a look at the reported reason for her absence from today’s proceedings from Rhian Lubin.
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:05
Who will perform the national anthem at Trump’s inauguration?As the president-elect takes his oath of office later today, he will be serenaded by a host of performers, including Christopher Macchio, who will belt out the national anthem.
Macchio, 46, a classical-crossover vocalist from New York City, takes on the honor from Lady Gaga, who performed the national anthem at Joe Biden’s 2021 swearing-in ceremony.
Here’s Inga Parkel’s profile of the singer.
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 11:45
Eight years ago, the stars avoided Trump’s inauguration. This time it’s differentCarrie Underwood might not be Beyoncé or Garth Brooks in the celebrity superstar ecosystem.
But the singer’s participation in Trump’s inauguration is nevertheless a sign of the changing tides, where mainstream entertainers, from Nelly to The Village People are more publicly and more enthusiastically associating with the new administration.
Eight years ago, Trump reportedly struggled to enlist stars to be part of the swearing-in and the various glitzy balls that follow.
The concurrent protest marches around the nation had more famous entertainers than the swearing-in, which stood in stark contrast to someone like Barack Obama, whose second inaugural ceremony had performances from Beyoncé, James Taylor and Kelly Clarkson and a series of starry onlookers.
There were always some celebrity Trump supporters, like Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan, Jon Voight, Rosanne Barr, Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone and Dennis Rodman, to name a few.
But Trump’s victory this time around was decisive and while Hollywood may always skew largely liberal, the slate of names participating in his inauguration weekend events has improved.
Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People and Lee Greenwood all performed at his MAGA-style rally on Sunday.
Those performing at inaugural balls include the rapper Nelly, country music band Rascal Flatts, country singer Jason Aldean and singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw.
“The people who are coming out and participating directly are still a small subset of the entire universe of what we call celebrity,” said Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University.
“But we’re seeing a lot more celebrities who are coming out and supporting Trump. There may not be that distinct division that we saw before.”
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 11:25
Recap: Trump concludes DC rally by dancing on stage with Village PeopleIn case you missed it, the president-elect hosted a “Make American Great Again Victory Rally” at Washington’s Capital One Arena on Sunday, which saw him wrap up his final speech as president-elect by dancing on stage with The Village People to their 1978 disco hit “YMCA”.
Say what you like about Trump but you never got this with Dwight Eisenhower.
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 11:05
Pope condemns Trump’s mass deportation plan: ‘It will be a disgrace’Pope Francis has condemned the president-elect’s plans for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States, calling his plans a “disgrace” in an interview on the Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa on Sunday.
“If it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the unpaid bill,” his holiness said.
“It won’t do. This is not the way to solve things.”
Katie Hawkinson reports.
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 10:45
Trump to call for ‘revolution of common sense’ in inaugural addressThe Wall Street Journal has got hold of an exclusive extract from the speech will deliver at the Capitol later today, which reveals he will promise a “revolution of common sense”.
The newspaper quotes Trump’s upcoming remarks as follows:
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success.
“A tide of change is sweeping the country.
“My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization.”
The Republican will reportedly deliver a more upbeat address this time far removed from his “American carnage” speech of eight years ago, which appeared to lift beats from Batman villain Bane in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, as he spells out in blunt terms what he believes the country needs as he presides over an administration focused on the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, exposing steep international trade tariffs and slashing the size of the sprawling federal government.
Donald Trump (AP)Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 10:35
Vivek Ramaswamy reportedly plans to step aside from DOGE after ‘friction’ with staffFormer Republican presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is reportedly expected to leave his post alongside Elon Musk at the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before it has even kicked into gear, with “friction” with staff cited as the reason by CBS.
Ramaswamy has also been linked in recent days with a run to replace Mike DeWine as Ohio governor once his final term is concluded.
Katie Hawkinson has more on the palace intrigue below.
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 10:25
