WASHINGTON (AP) — Here’s what to know today:
1. What are the events today? Sunday will be Trump’s first full day back in the capital since the election. Trump planned to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before addressing a rally downtown at Capital One Arena, home of Washington pro basketball and hockey teams.
2. Foreign leaders are in town: Previous, no heads of state have made an official visit to the U.S. for the inauguration. But this year, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni will be in attendance.
Here's the latest:
Trump rally feels a lot like the campaign
Trump is about to be sworn in as president, but his pre-inaugural rally in Washington at times feels like he’s still campaigning for the job.
Trump supporters are aggressively attacking outgoing President Joe Biden, defeated Vice President Kamala Harris and their fellow Democrats, using many of the same broadsides they lobbed during the campaign.
“It’s been four long years,” said Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s top advisers who will have a senior role in the White House. “Four years of weakness for years of humiliation and embarrassment, four years of persecution, four years of inflation, poverty incompetence. Four years of betrayal, four years of wide open, undefended, unprotected, open borders. But tomorrow at 12 p.m., that’s all going to end.”
Conservative commentator and podcast host Megyn Kelly called Harris “the fakest person involved on that side at the aisle.” She said Harris was a candidate “who pretended that she wasn’t the border czar, who pretended that she was middle class, who pretended that she was smart.”
‘Justice is coming:’ Stephen Miller forecasts immigration crackdown
Trump’s new deputy chief of policy Stephen Miller cheered an expected immigration crackdown in his remarks at Trump’s inauguration eve rally.
Miller spoke of an executive order “taking America back” through deportation of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. He said it would bring justice for those whose loved ones have been killed by those immigrants.
Immigrants in large cities have been bracing for the president-elect’s planned “mass deportation program” even as Trump has offered few details of what it will look like.
America has gone through “four years of weakness, four years of humiliation and embarrassment,” Miller said. “It’s about to be a country that is respected.”
Puerto Rican singers celebrate Trump at rally
Anuel AA and Justin Quiles, two Puerto Rican musicians, spoke in support of Trump onstage at his inauguration eve rally.
The moment stood in stark contrast to one of Trump’s rallies near the end of the campaign, when a comedian opening the rally called Puerto Rico a ” floating island of garbage.”
‘MAGA Victory’ rally in Washington gets underway
Trump’s pre-inaugural rally in Washington is starting with a performance of the national anthem, a prayer and a performance by musician Kid Rock.
Trump fans are filling into Capitol One Arena in Washington, but the nosebleed seats are still mostly empty. The floor, first and second sections are largely full, other than VIP seats. Trump is scheduled to speak later.
Vance greets Chinese vice president
JD Vance greeted Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, welcoming his soon-to-be counterpart to the United States and the inauguration.
The Trump transition team says Vance and Han “discussed a range of topics including fentanyl, valancing trade and regional stability.”
Dignitaries from around the world are expected when Trump and Vance are inaugurated on Monday.
In an unorthodox move, Trump last month invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to the inauguration. No head of state has previously made an official visit to the U.S. for the inauguration, according to State Department historical records.
Trump lays wreath
Trump appeared solemn as he placed a wreath on an easel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Moments later, Vance did the same.
After he placing the wreaths, Trump, Vance and their wives met with families of soldiers buried at Section 60 in Arlington National Cemetery, a burial site for military personnel killed while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Trump greeted each family individually at the gravestones of their loved ones and appeared to place challenge coins on their headstones.
Trump arrives in Arlington
Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have arrived at Arlington National Cemetery. They walked down the stairs through a drizzly rain and past a silent crowd.
Trump is set to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, part of his multi-day schedule of inauguration events.
Cabinet members and family await Trump’s arrival in Arlington
Trump family members and his picks for several Cabinet positions are at Arlington National Cemetery, where the president-elect will soon participate in a wreath-laying ceremony ahead of a rally.
Among those in attendance are his wife, Melania Trump, and his children: Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump and Ivanka Trump.
Also present are Pete Hegseth, his pick for defense secretary, Marco Rubio, his pick for secretary of state, Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence and Elise Stefanik, his pick for United Nations ambassador. JD Vance’s spouse, Usha Vance, was also in attendance.
Thanking Trump, TikTok restores service for US users
Hours after Trump vowed to delay TikTok’s ban once he enters office, the platform was beginning to come back online for some U.S. users.
The company that runs TikTok posted on X, referencing Trump’s post, said it was “in the process” of restoring service.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the company said.
Trump ‘ebullient,’ ‘serene’ ahead of taking office, Roger Stone says
Close confidants of Trump believe he’s in high spirits on the eve of his inauguration.
“I haven’t talked to him in a couple of days, but I would describe him as an ebullient, serene, calm, excited, I mean, about the potential. He’s much more engaged in the formation of his administration than he was in 2017. He’s actually in a great mood,” Roger Stone, a political consultant and close ally of Trump, told the Associated Press Saturday evening.
Stone consulted on Trump’s 2016 campaign run and was a central subject of investigation for the special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller into potential Russian election interference.
Stone said he preferred the inauguration being held indoors for security reasons, not inclement weather.
“I’m happy it’s going inside. We have had, undeniably, two assassinations attempts on him. I speak only for myself here, but I think he’s much safer under these circumstances,” Stone said.
Hispanic Inaugural Ball celebrates pan-American right
Members of Congress like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar mingled with conservative Hispanic American business leaders as well as Latin American politicians at the Saturday night event, which took place at the at Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington.
Venezuelan centrist opposition politician Juan Guaidó was hailed by attendees and was greeted by U.S. lawmakers.
Argentinian President Javier Milei, a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” who has carried out an audacious economic agenda in the South American nation, was hugged Vivek Ramaswamy on stage before delivering remarks.
Ramaswamy, a Trump insider, called Milei “an inspiration” and “DOGE before there was DOGE in America.”
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña also rallied gala attendees during remarks. Both Milei and Peña are conservative economists turned politicians. Each praised Trump’s agenda and said they hoped for deeper ties between the U.S. and Latin America.
Trump’s cabinet takes a photo
As Trump was preparing to retake the White House, most of his choices for his in-coming Cabinet gathered for the first time at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Trump’s picks for key Cabinet posts – including his choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – attended a closed-door, formal dinner on Saturday night.
Kash Patel, Trump’s choice as FBI director, shared on social media a photo of the Cabinet picks lined up in three rows and facing the camera. Many – but not all – were smiling. “I’d write a caption,” Patel wrote. “But y’all do it.”
Trump has breakfast with GOP senators
Trump kicked off his formal events for Inauguration Day eve with a private breakfast with Republican senators.
The closed-door gathering was held at Blair House, the president’s official guest residence on Pennsylvania Avenue. It is located across the street from the White House, where Trump slept Saturday night.
Vice President-elect JD Vance, a senator from Ohio until his recent resignation, was also seen arriving at Blair House Sunday morning, as the breakfast began.
Trump vows to give TikTok a 90-day extension
Trump said Sunday that he’ll issue an executive order to extend TikTok’s life in the U.S. another 90 days, allowing more time to work out a deal with China to avoid a permanent ban.
“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday as well as other events and conversations.”
He said he’s interested in the U.S. owning 50% of TikTok in a “joint venture” model, though he didn’t offer much detail on what that would look like.
TikTok stopped working for users in the U.S. on Saturday evening and the app was removed from prominent app stores in the country. Trump says he won’t punish companies that keep TikTok functioning before he takes office Monday.
Clothes in the closets and favorite foods in the fridge: Moving day comes to the White House
Most presidents get to move into the White House once. President-elect Donald Trump is doing it twice, and his wife, Melania, says it’s a lot easier the second time around.
“I know where I will be going. I know the rooms where we will be living. I know the process,” the incoming first lady said recently. She described their first move to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in 2017 as “challenging.”
Regardless of who is president, the whole process also challenges the White House residence staff: The maids, butlers and others who look after the president’s private living space have about five hours — from start to finish — on Inauguration Day to move out one first family and settle in the next one.
“Everything needs to be planned to the minute,” Melania Trump said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
The clock starts ticking when the outgoing and incoming presidents leave the White House together for a shared limousine ride to the Capitol for the swearing-in.
“As soon as they leave, the executive residence staff swings into action,” Matthew Costello, chief education officer of the White House Historical Association, said during a recent online program about Inauguration Day history. “Essentially, staff is working nonstop to inventory, process and move all of the personal items of one first family out and a new first family in.”
▶ Read more about the process of moving day at the White House
What to watch at the inauguration tomorrow
Donald Trump’s inauguration as the country’s 47th president was expected to be an extravagant break from tradition — before it got moved indoors due to cold weather.
There will still be well-known performers, influential billionaires as guests and foreign heads of state. Unlike his first inauguration eight years ago, Trump will be welcomed back to office by business titans and global leaders, groups that often shunned him in his first term.
▶ Read more about what to expect on Monday
The inauguration is moving indoors. Here’s what to know about the changed plans
Sub-freezing temperatures forecast for Monday in Washington mean President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda. Almost everyone visiting Washington won’t be able to see the ceremony in person.
It will be the first time in 40 years that the swearing-in won’t take place on the Capitol steps. Plans are underway to accommodate some attendees at the city’s pro basketball and hockey arena.
▶ Read more about what to know about the change of venue
The schedule for Sunday:
The pageantry and parties surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration kick off this weekend with fireworks and a rally before Monday’s inaugural ceremony, parade and balls.
Here’s the schedule for Sunday:
Arlington ceremony: The president-elect will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
MAGA rally: In the evening, Trump will hold a campaign-style “MAGA Victory” rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C.
The rally is set to include performances by Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People, Lee Greenwood and a Liberty University choir that will pay tribute to the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one rallygoer was killed and three people were injured, including Trump, whose ear was grazed by a bullet.
Rally speakers will include Trump, Vance, Elon Musk, former wrestling star Hulk Hogan, actor Jon Voight, UFC President Dana White, Puerto Rican reggaeton star Anuel AA, Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk and conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly,
Dinner: Trump will attend a candlelight dinner, at which he’s expected to speak.
▶ Read more about the schedule for today and Monday
Associated Press, The Associated Press
