Rabat – Today, Washington DC is bustling as Donald Trump is about to be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States.
The New York billionaire will be swearing an oath over the Bible for a second time after winning an incredibly contested race against soon-to-be former vice president, Kamala Harris.
The inauguration ceremony is set to take place at 12 p.m. EST (6 p.m. Moroccan time) inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Normally, the ceremony is held outside at the West Front of the Capitol, in order to give the general public a chance to view the fanfare live. However, DC recently has hit a cold snap of temperatures dropping down to -6 degrees Celsius, causing the move indoors to ensure safety of attendees.
The last time the ceremony was changed due to frigid weather was 1985, for the swearing-in of Trump’s former Republican predecessor, Ronald Reagan.
Trump posted about the venue change on his socials platform, Truth Social, to assuage his disappointed base, who flocked in thousands to the US capital to watch the event in person. “This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience!,” he said.
Channels providing inauguration coverage
NPR will provide live coverage of Trump’s inauguration starting at 11 a.m. EST (5 p.m. Moroccan time) on NPR.org and YouTube, alongside CBS News, NBC News, ABC News and Al Jazeera who will also be live streaming online and on-air.
C-SPAN.org broadcast their official inaugural committee livestream, and viewers can also watch the speeches on subscription-based platforms Youtube TV and Hulu+ Live TV.
Major US broadcasters CNN and Fox News will also stream their coverage, with a paid subscription.
Historical firsts
Today’s inauguration is historical for a number of reasons. This will mark the first time a convicted felon has been elected as president of the United States.
Trump is now the second-ever presidential nominee to be elected for a non-consecutive term after being defeated, following Grover Cleveland. The New York Democrat won a narrow race in 1884, but lost his re-election in 1888 with the Electoral College despite winning the popular vote. He then was renominated in 1892 beating out the incumbent he had lost to four years prior – Benjamin Harrison.
Trump’s presidential trajectory differs from Cleveland’s as he won due to Electoral College votes in 2016 and then again in 2024, alongside the popular vote by a narrow margin.
Trump’s win is also a chance for Republicans to take control of the White House once again. The “red wave” has already extended to the Supreme Court, but has now made its way to the House and Senate in a disappointing loss for the Democrats.
Read Also: Tik Tok Back Online as Trump Pledges Executive Order to Delay US Ban
