Washington: Incoming President Donald Trump is set to take office Monday as his second four-year term is expected to see a major shift in the United States' approach to alliances, trade, and other key issues, with his "America First" credo front and center. Trump will be sworn in as the U.S.' 47th president in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington at noon, as policymakers across the globe are closely watching the transition of power and its implications on foreign and security policy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the swearing-in ceremony, initially planned for the outdoor West Front of the Capitol, has been moved indoors due to projections of frigid temperatures. This marks the first indoor inaugural ceremony since former President Ronald Reagan's second term in 1985. Security has been heightened around the Capitol in anticipation of the ceremony, following recent New Year's Day attacks and two attempts on Trump's life during the campaign period.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has distributed 220,000 tickets for those planning to attend in person. However, with the move indoors, many attendees might not directly witness Trump taking the oath. South Korea's Ambassador to the United States, Cho Hyun-dong, will represent the Seoul government at the event.
Inauguration Day events will begin with a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square, followed by a meeting with outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House. The swearing-in ceremony will commence at noon, marking the end of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris's terms, in line with the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A significant moment will be Trump taking the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, using two Bibles. One, given by his mother in 1955, and the Lincoln Bible from the Library of Congress. Vice President J.D. Vance will also take the oath using a family Bible owned by his maternal great-grandmother.
Following the oath, Trump is expected to deliver an inaugural address focused on unity in a polarized nation and outlining his plans for the next four years. Afterward, he will attend a luncheon hosted by the JCCIC before moving to the President's Room near the Senate Chamber to sign executive orders and nominations.
Trump has prepared over 100 executive orders to be enacted from Day One, aiming to reverse Biden's policies and advance his America First agenda, particularly in border security and immigration. Additional events include an indoor presidential parade at Capital One Arena and three formal balls: the Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball, Liberty Inaugural Ball, and Starlight Ball.
Trump's return to the Oval Office is expected to bring a diplomatic approach that reduces overseas engagements, pressures allies to share security responsibilities, and addresses U.S. trade deficits. This comes as South Korea grapples with political uncertainty following the impeachment and detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol, which may affect its policy coordination with the Trump administration.