We are officially in the last week of Joe Biden’s presidency. There is less than one week left until President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office on Inauguration Day.
Here’s what to know about Inauguration Day, inauguration balls and events, how tickets are distributed and how to watch Trump’s swearing-in next week.
When is Inauguration Day?
Inauguration Day, when Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn into office, is Monday, Jan. 20, which is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Inauguration events are planned by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCIC) and include the swearing-in, inaugural address and pass in review. Other events surrounding the inauguration include an inaugural parade and inaugural balls.
Here is a full rundown of Inauguration Day:
How many inaugural balls are there?
Every four years, to celebrate the new president, there are a variety of galas, balls and parties that follow the inaugural ceremonies that occur during and around Inauguration Day. The number of official balls varies from president to president, and unofficial inaugural balls are held by companies and state societies.
Official presidential balls, planned and sanctioned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), are private events that are closed to the public. You can’t request a ticket to an official inaugural ball like you can with other Inauguration Day events and there likely won’t be a livestream of the official balls.
There are three official inaugural balls listed for President-elect Trump on the PIC website.
Here are the three official inaugural balls listed for Monday, Jan. 20:
What time is the inauguration 2025? How to livestream President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration
Major networks like ABC, CBS, CNN, PBS, NBC, MSNBC, CSPAN and Fox News will all be airing the inauguration live on Inauguration Day, Monday, Jan. 20. The official time of Trump’s swearing in is set for noon EST.
The White House will also be livestreaming the ceremony and USA TODAY will have a livestream on YouTube.
What is the theme of the inauguration?
The theme of the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies is “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise,” according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
The theme “recognizes the Founders’ commitment to future generations of Americans to preserve the continuity and stability of our democratic system of government.”
What is the presidential oath of office?
According to USA.gov, the vice president-elect is sworn in first and repeats the same oath of office as senators, representatives, and other federal employees.
That oath, in use since 1884, goes as follows:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
At noon, the president-elect takes the following oath as stipulated by Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution:
“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.”
How much do inauguration tickets cost?
Tickets to inaugurations are free, not for sale. But according to USA.gov, tickets for the inauguration were limited and only available upon request in the weeks leading up to inauguration events.
“Tickets are free and allow you to watch in person on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol as the president and vice president are sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025,” USA.gov says.
“Tickets will be available from your members of Congress in the weeks leading up to the inauguration. Some members may begin accepting requests for tickets before then.”
You can find and contact your senators and your member of the House of Representatives using USA.gov’s search tool.
Contributing: Victoria E. Freile, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Trump takes office: How to watch, What to know about Inauguration Day