On Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America. It was the 60th Presidential Inauguration. His second term in office has officially begun.
Regardless of political affiliations, many Villanova students streamed the Inauguration from campus.
“As a political science major and someone who is very interested in working hands-on in politics, I watch and listen to almost everything happening in D.C.,” freshman intended-political science major, Megan Lawn, said. “Watching the Inauguration, I think, is very important just as an American. Regardless of preference, it’s an American ritual, and I think it is important to watch political happenings as they are, live.”
President Trump requested his second Inauguration be moved inside the Capitol Rotunda due to the dangerously frigid temperatures outside. The ceremony has not taken place indoors since Ronald Reagan’s second Inauguration, in 1985.
Throughout the ceremony, various musicians performed renditions of patriotic music from inside the Rotunda. Some of the instrumentalists and vocalists included the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs, the United States Marine Band, opera singer Christopher D. Macchio and Carrie Underwood.
Democratic Senator of Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar, began the ceremony with a call to order.
Before the Vice President-Elect was sworn into office, Cardinal Timothy Dolan; the Archbishop of New York; and Reverend Franklin Graham, CEO and founder of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, provided the invocation.
The vice presidential oath of office was administered by United States Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Standing beside his wife Usha Vance, J.D. Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States.
The presidential oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
President Trump’s oath of office attracted significant media attention because he did not place his hand on the Bible. Although the act of placing a hand on the Bible is a presidential tradition, it is not a legal requirement in the Constitution.
President Trump’s inaugural address also gained media attention, sparking much controversy.
“I thought that the Inauguration was unusual in a couple of respects,” said Dr. Matthew Kerbel, professor emeritus of political science. “I thought that the inaugural address was a little unconventional, it was something of a hybrid of an inaugural address, a State of the Union address and a campaign rally. I felt that the way President Trump portrayed America in his speech resonated with his supporters, but it might not resonate in people who did not support him.”
In his inaugural address, President Trump outlined his upcoming executive plans concerning immigration, gender identity, energy and international affairs. His speech was frequently interrupted by the crowd’s applause and standing ovations.
Former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were in attendance, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence and Dan Quayle were also present.
CEO attendees included Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon; Tim Cook, CEO of Apple; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet; Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook; and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.
Shou Chew, CEO of TikTok, accepted an invitation from President Trump to attend the Inauguration. He was present in the Rotunda, just one day after the U.S. TikTok ban was temporarily lifted.
Although Villanovans were unable to view the Inauguration in person, students still engaged with the media coverage.
“I’ve been pretty invested in the news and in politics since around middle school, though, I say, it’s all become more inescapable and relevant than ever in recent years, and not just because I’m a declared political science major now,” junior political science major, JP Tampe, said. “For me, it’s a lot like watching history unfold in real time, for better or for worse.”
Junior political science major, Avery Junker, believes Americans should remain informed throughout a president’s entire term, not just on Inauguration Day.
“I think it is more important to stay politically informed throughout a president’s term, rather than simply watching the Inauguration,” Junker said. “A lot of knowledge can be gained from these ceremonial events, as well as the initial presidential decrees, but in full, I think Inauguration Day is only so informative.”