DONALD Trump will begin his big day by having coffee with Barack Obama before going to a service at St John’s Episcopal Church across from the White House, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.
Security screening gates will open at 6am and the inaugural ceremony will begin at 11.30am. Trump will be sworn in around noon on the west side of the US Capitol overlooking the National Mall.
The Inaugural Parade is expected to begin around 3pm after the traditional inaugural luncheon. Trump and vice president-elect Mike Pence will make their way up Pennsylvania Avenue from the US Capitol to the White House.
Jackie Evancho, 16, who rose to fame on the TV show America’s Got Talent, will sing the national anthem. Other famous names attending will be Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Laura Bush, George W Bush, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton.
Trump is expected to spend time at the White House before attending two official inauguaral balls along with The Salute to Our Armed Services Ball later that night. Sam Moore, of legendary soul duo Sam and Dave, will lead the line-up at Liberty and Freedom: The Official Presidential Inaugural Balls.
The Radio City Rockettes will also rock the official balls, as well as Tim Rushlow and his Big Band, Silhouettes, Pelican212, The Piano Guys, Circus 1903, Cache Olson, Lexi Walker and Erin Boheme.
There are alternatives to the official balls – the Peace Ball in Washington, for liberal activists, featuring Solange Knowles and Grammy-winning jazz musician Esperanza Spalding. Rock band Audioslave will play their first concert for 11 years at an Anti-Inaugural Ball in Los Angeles, organised by rock/hip-hop crossover band Prophets of Rage, and veteran folk rocker Jackson Browne – who initially supported Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders – will also play.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here