The Most Striking Photos of Donald Trump’s Inauguration

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Chip Somodevilla/Getty

President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office from U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

See some of the most interesting photos from the day ahead.

01of 23Family TimeAnna Moneymaker/GettyBaron Trump, Melania Trump and Donald Trump arrive for church services at St. John’s and sit ahead of his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

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Family Time

Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Barron Trump, Melania Trump and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrive for services at St. John’s Church as part of Inauguration ceremonies on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Baron Trump, Melania Trump and Donald Trump arrive for church services at St. John’s and sit ahead of his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

02of 23Presidents and SpousesROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via GettyAfter Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Melania Trump had tea at the White House,they rode together to the inauguration ceremony.

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Presidents and Spouses

ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose alongside President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump as they arrive at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025, before departing for the US Capitol where Trump will be sworn in as the 47th US President.

After Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Melania Trump had tea at the White House,they rode together to the inauguration ceremony.

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Vice Presidents and Spouses

Usha Vance, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and U.S. Vice President-elect former Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) stand together at the White House ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Incoming second lady Usha Vance, outgoing first gentleman Doug Emhoff, outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and incoming Vice President J.D. Vance also met at the White House.

04of 23First LadiesAndrew Harnik/GettyOutgoing first lady Jill Biden and incoming first lady Melania Trump leave the White Houseafter sharing tea there.

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First Ladies

Andrew Harnik/Getty

First lady Jill Biden and Melania Trump depart the White House ahead of the Inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Outgoing first lady Jill Biden and incoming first lady Melania Trump leave the White Houseafter sharing tea there.

05of 23Vice PresidentsAndrew Harnik/GettyOutgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and incoming Vice President J.D. Vance leave the White House after meeting their with their spouses.

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Vice Presidents

Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) depart the White House ahead of the Inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and incoming Vice President J.D. Vance leave the White House after meeting their with their spouses.

06of 23Tech CEOsSAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via GettyLauren Sánchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk waited in the Capitol Rotunda for the event to begin.

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Tech CEOs

SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty

Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attend the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Lauren Sánchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk waited in the Capitol Rotunda for the event to begin.

07of 23Selfie MomentAl Drago-Pool/GettyOpenAI’s Sam Altamn takes a photo with Jake Paul and Logan Paul ahead of the event.

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Selfie Moment

Al Drago-Pool/Getty

Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI Inc. (L) with boxer Jake Paul and wrestler Logan Paul arrives prior to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump at the United States Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th President of the United States.

OpenAI’s Sam Altamn takes a photo with Jake Paul and Logan Paul ahead of the event.

08of 23Mitch McConnell and Elaine ChaoCHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via GettyRepublican Senator Mitch McConnell, who issued a warning after Trump’s election,tellingThe Financial Times, “We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War II. Even the slogan is the same. ‘America First.’ That was what they said in the ’30s," enters with his wife Elaine Chao, who served as transportation secretary in Trump’s first term (andwho he has recently antagonized on his social media platform, Truth Social).

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Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao

CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty

US Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and his wife Elaine Chao arrive at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who issued a warning after Trump’s election,tellingThe Financial Times, “We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War II. Even the slogan is the same. ‘America First.’ That was what they said in the ’30s," enters with his wife Elaine Chao, who served as transportation secretary in Trump’s first term (andwho he has recently antagonized on his social media platform, Truth Social).

09of 23Mark ZuckerbergKENNY HOLSTON/POOL/AFP via GettyMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stands between his wife Priscilla Chan and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez.

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Mark Zuckerberg

KENNY HOLSTON/POOL/AFP via Getty

CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg (C) attends the inauguration ceremony where Donald Trump will sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stands between his wife Priscilla Chan and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez.

10of 23FriendshipChip Somodevilla/GettyFirst lady Jill Biden, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former U.S. President George W. Bush watch the events.Trump supporters booed the Obamas, Clintons and former Vice President Mike Pence as they walked to their seats.

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Friendship

First lady Jill Biden, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former U.S. President George W. Bush watch the events.

Trump supporters booed the Obamas, Clintons and former Vice President Mike Pence as they walked to their seats.

11of 23Former Vice PresidentSAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via GettyMike Pence, who served as Vice President under the previous Trump administration — and callsfor whose hanging Trump allegedly expressed approvalduring the January 6, 2021 insurrection — attended the event.Former first lady Karen Pence did not attend.

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Former Vice President

Former US Vice President Mike Pence arrives for the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Mike Pence, who served as Vice President under the previous Trump administration — and callsfor whose hanging Trump allegedly expressed approvalduring the January 6, 2021 insurrection — attended the event.Former first lady Karen Pence did not attend.

12of 23Past PresidentsSAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via GettyFormer US President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama look on during the Inauguration.Former first lady Michelle Obama did not attend.Also pictured in this photo are megadonor Miriam Adelson, Joe Rogan andDelphine and Alexandre Arnault, members of the billionaire LVMH family.

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Past Presidents

Former US President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama attend the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Former US President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama look on during the Inauguration.Former first lady Michelle Obama did not attend.

Also pictured in this photo are megadonor Miriam Adelson, Joe Rogan andDelphine and Alexandre Arnault, members of the billionaire LVMH family.

13of 23Shou Chew and Tulsi GabbardKEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via GettyShou Chew, CEO of TikTok (which was banned in a bipartisan bill due to national security concerns, but has been given a 75-day reprieve via executive order) has a prominent seat at the inauguration, next to Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence.

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Shou Chew and Tulsi Gabbard

KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via Getty

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew (C) and Donald Trump’s nominee to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard (R) applaud during Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. Trump takes office for his second non-consecutive term as the 47th president of the United States.

Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok (which was banned in a bipartisan bill due to national security concerns, but has been given a 75-day reprieve via executive order) has a prominent seat at the inauguration, next to Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence.

14of 23Heads of StateChip Somodevilla/GettyVance and Trump have a word before they are both sworn in.

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Heads of State

U.S. Vice President-elect former Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as they arrive to inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States.

Vance and Trump have a word before they are both sworn in.

15of 23Spouse SupportSAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via GettyMelania and Donald air-kiss before she holds two bibles for him to be sworn in on.

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Spouse Support

US President-elect Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump as he arrives for the inauguration ceremony before he is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Melania and Donald air-kiss before she holds two bibles for him to be sworn in on.

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Oath of Office

17of 23Sworn InKenny Holston-Pool/GettyTrump celebrates with his family, including sons Barron and Eric and daughters Ivanka and Tiffany.

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Sworn In

Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrates with family after being sworn in at his inauguration in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th President of the United States.

Trump celebrates with his family, including sons Barron and Eric and daughters Ivanka and Tiffany.

18of 23Elon MuskSAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via GettyElon Musk does a double first pump in celebration.

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Elon Musk

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk cheers as US President Donald Trump speaks after being sworn in as the 47th President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Elon Musk does a double first pump in celebration.

19of 23’America the Beautiful’SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via GettySinger Carrie Underwood performs “America the Beautiful” as some in the audience sing along.

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‘America the Beautiful’

US singer songwriter Carrie Underwood performs “America the Beautiful” after President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025

Singer Carrie Underwood performs “America the Beautiful” as some in the audience sing along.

20of 23Bidding FarewellJIM WATSON/AFP via GettyThe Trumps and the Bidens connect before the Bidens depart for the day.

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Bidding Farewell

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in a departure ceremony for former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden, before the Bidens board a helicopter outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

The Trumps and the Bidens connect before the Bidens depart for the day.

21of 23Inauguration EventsALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockDonald Trump and J.D. Vance are seen on the Jumbotron at their indoor parade at Capital One Arena.

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Inauguration Events

ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are seen on the Jumbotron at their indoor parade at Capital One Arena.

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Controversial Gesture

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

23of 23Inaugural BallAndrew Harnik/GettyDonald Trump and Melania Trump wore black and white formal looks to the night’s events.

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Inaugural Ball

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump and wife Melania arrive to the Commander and Chief Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump attends some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump wore black and white formal looks to the night’s events.

source: people.com