Trump Inauguration: Here’s What To Know About Today’s Schedule, Guest List, Weather, Performers And More

Forbes - Jan 20th, 2025
Open on Forbes

President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday. Due to severe cold weather, the swearing-in ceremony will be held indoors at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. The event is notable for its guest list, which includes former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, as well as billionaires such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos. Despite the frigid conditions, the inauguration will proceed with a series of events, including a luncheon, a parade, and several inaugural balls. Some notable absences include Michelle Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The indoor inauguration marks a continuation of a unique political tradition, with historical precedents for moving ceremonies due to weather conditions. The presence of international figures, such as Argentinian President Javier Milei and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, highlights the global interest in Trump's presidency. However, the attendance of several controversial figures, like indicted Brazilian ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, raises questions about international diplomacy and political alliances. The inauguration coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, leading to closures of banks and stock markets, further impacting the day's significance.

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RATING

7.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The news story provides a comprehensive overview of Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration, offering detailed insights into the schedule, attendees, and logistical adjustments due to weather. Its high accuracy is supported by reputable sources, reinforcing the credibility of the reported information. While the story is balanced, it could benefit from more diverse perspectives and expert analyses to enrich its narrative.

The quality of sources is strong, with authoritative outlets cited, but expanding the range could offer deeper context. Transparency is present but could be enhanced by clarifying the origins and methodologies behind certain claims, particularly regarding attendee lists and performer details.

Clarity is a notable strength, with a logical structure and accessible language, though distinguishing confirmed facts from speculations would improve comprehension. Overall, the story is informative and reliable, offering a nuanced view of the inauguration while highlighting areas for potential enhancement in perspective and context.

RATING DETAILS

9
Accuracy

The news story demonstrates high factual accuracy, supported by a detailed accuracy check that confirms the veracity of most claims. The article correctly reports that the inauguration ceremony will be moved indoors due to extreme weather conditions, a fact corroborated by multiple sources such as RBC-Ukraine and ABC News. The presence of prominent attendees, including former U.S. presidents and key figures from the tech industry, is also accurately detailed and aligns with reports from NBC and other reputable outlets.

However, there are minor discrepancies regarding the list of performers, as some sources mention additional artists who are not part of the main ceremony. This inconsistency does not significantly detract from the overall accuracy but highlights the need for careful source comparison.

Overall, the story provides a comprehensive and precise account of the inauguration, with well-documented details that enhance its credibility. The inclusion of specific quotes and data further supports the factual basis of the claims made.

7
Balance

The news story presents a generally balanced perspective, offering a neutral overview of the events surrounding the inauguration without overt bias. It includes a variety of viewpoints, such as the attendance of both Trump supporters and critics, which helps in providing a broader context. The mention of former President Bush's past comment during Trump's previous inauguration adds a layer of historical context that reflects differing opinions about Trump.

However, the story could enhance its balance by including more perspectives from the attendees about their views and reasons for attending or not attending. The absence of commentary from those choosing not to attend, such as Michelle Obama or Nancy Pelosi, limits the scope of perspectives represented. Additionally, the story could provide more insight into the implications of inviting foreign leaders, which is noted as unprecedented, but lacks a diverse range of expert opinions on potential diplomatic repercussions.

In summary, while the story effectively covers various aspects of the inauguration, it could benefit from deeper exploration of contrasting viewpoints and potential implications.

8
Clarity

The news story is generally clear and well-structured, presenting information in a logical sequence that guides the reader through the inauguration's key details. The language is straightforward and professional, avoiding unnecessary jargon and ensuring that complex information is accessible to a broad audience.

The use of subheadings and bullet points for event schedules enhances readability by breaking down information into digestible segments. However, the story could improve by providing clearer distinctions between confirmed facts and speculative elements, especially concerning the attendance of certain foreign leaders and billionaires.

Overall, the story maintains a neutral tone and effectively communicates its content, but minor adjustments in clarifying speculative details and enhancing structural organization could further improve clarity and reader comprehension.

8
Source quality

The sources cited in the news story are generally of high quality, including reputable outlets such as NBC News, ABC News, and Bloomberg, which enhance the credibility of the reported information. These sources are known for their rigorous journalistic standards and provide authoritative coverage of political events, ensuring accurate and reliable information.

The story also references specific statements from official spokespersons and entities, such as Michelle Obama's office and the Chinese foreign ministry, which further bolster the trustworthiness of the content. However, while the story draws from a variety of reputable sources, it could benefit from a broader range of expert analyses or commentary to provide additional context and depth.

Overall, the use of credible and well-respected sources supports the article's reliability, but expanding the diversity of source types, such as including academic or historical perspectives, could enhance the depth and richness of the reporting.

7
Transparency

The news story demonstrates moderate transparency, providing clear and explicit information about the inauguration's schedule, attendees, and circumstances. It effectively cites sources and provides context for its claims, such as the historical precedent of foreign leader invitations.

However, the story could improve its transparency by offering more background information on the sources of its data and quotes, particularly for claims regarding the attendance of specific individuals and the involvement of certain performers. Explicitly referencing the methodologies or criteria used to compile the guest list or performer details would enhance the article's transparency.

While the story does a commendable job in delivering key facts, greater disclosure of the process behind information gathering and potential conflicts of interest, especially related to the involvement of tech giants and their support for the inauguration, would provide a more comprehensive and transparent account.

Sources

  1. https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/who-s-attending-trump-s-2025-inauguration-1737375329.html
  2. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/who-is-performing-at-donald-trump-inauguration-nelly-carrie-underwood/6113482/
  3. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-inauguration-moving-indoors-due-weather-sources/story?id=117792480
  4. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/heres-the-complete-schedule-for-trumps-inauguration/3650512/
  5. https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/2025-inauguration-performers