Interesting and unknown facts about the inauguration of the President of the United States: from historical symbols to modern political signals
The world is preparing for the inauguration of the new US president, which is an important event in the international arena. This ceremony marks the official start of a presidential term and sets the tone for future US politics. The inauguration of the US president is not only a political event, but a real national ritual, which combines bright historical traditions, deep symbolism, and also serves as a kind of stage for political statements, intrigues and even curiosities. This is a moment when American democracy is showing its legacy, and the world is closely watching the most important transition of power in one of the most powerful states. However, many interesting facts, ambiguities and questions are hidden behind the glitz and pathos of this day. Why did some presidents break protocol? How did inaugurations turn into an arena of political disputes? Why didn’t Donald Trump invite Volodymyr Zelensky to his presidential ceremony? Let’s consider the unknown traditions, controversial decisions and hidden aspects of this grand event.
Traditions that have been formed over the centuries
Every year, the inauguration turns Washington into a magnet for more than two million people who come to the capital to see the event firsthand. At the same time, in all US states, the middle of the day becomes an informal holiday: many offices close so that people can watch the broadcast of the ceremony. Despite the scale of the event, there is only one officially mandatory part of the inauguration — the swearing-in of the president. Other elements — the White House High Tea, the parade, receptions and balls — complement the day, adding to its grandeur and spectacle.
The inauguration of the US president is a unique interweaving of history, tradition and politics. At the same time, each new president added his own accents to this ceremony, forming the multi-layered and colorful tradition we know today. Thus, the first US President George Washington laid the foundation of the inauguration ritual. In 1789, in Federal Hall, he put his hand on the Bible and pronounced the words of the oath recorded in the Constitution: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully perform the duties of the President of the United States and will to the best of my ability support, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States.”
In 1789, George Washington became the first president to take the oath of office in New York. At that time, the capital Washington did not yet exist, and the ceremony itself was minimalistic. It is Washington who is believed to have started the tradition of ending the oath with the words “God help me.” Over time, these words became an integral part of the ceremony for most presidents. Often, presidents put their hand on the Bible, but this is not a mandatory requirement. Each president chose a book or document that had a special meaning for him. For example, Lyndon Johnson took the oath on a Catholic prayer book, and Theodore Roosevelt – without a book at all.
The inauguration of the president of the USA takes place according to a strictly defined protocol. On the day of the ceremony, the president-elect and vice president and their wives arrive at the White House, where they are greeted by the current president and first lady. Afterwards, the two couples head to the Capitol. On its west steps, in the presence of congressmen and senators, the oath of the vice president, and later the president himself, is taken. After that, the president delivers an inaugural speech outlining the main directions of his administration. After taking the oath, the new president, together with the motorcade, goes from the Capitol to the White House. Along the road, thousands of spectators are waiting for him, who welcome the new leader. A ceremonial parade takes place in the White House, which the president observes from a special tribune. He walks down Pennsylvania Avenue, heading from the Capitol to the White House, sometimes accompanied by a limousine. In normal years, this parade is a spectacular event for thousands of spectators, but due to the pandemic, the format may be shortened or changed entirely. The day ends with celebratory balls and receptions hosted in Washington that evening or the following day. The first lady usually attracts attention with her outfit, which often becomes a symbol of the era.
It should be noted that Thomas Jefferson, the third president, made a significant contribution to the development of this ceremony. After his second inauguration, he rode to the presidential palace on horseback, accompanied by mechanics from the Navy Yard who played music. This event started the tradition of the inauguration parade, which symbolizes the unity of the president with the people. The fourth president, James Madison, introduced a new element — the inaugural ball. The first ball became a landmark event, and over time the number of such events increased significantly. They turned into bright and elegant celebrations, which are held not only in Washington, but also in other cities of the United States.
Interesting moments of the inauguration of the US presidents
Inaugurations always took place under any circumstances, even in difficult conditions. During John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961, due to a heavy snowstorm, the US Army cleared the roads with flamethrowers to make way for the traditional parade. In addition, tragic events changed the course of the inauguration more than once. For example, after the assassination of JFK in 1963, his successor, Lyndon Johnson, took the oath of office aboard the presidential plane at the Dallas airport. The ceremony was the only one in history to be held at such a location, and it was the first time a woman had conducted it — federal judge Sarah T. Hughes.
Interestingly, the speeches of the presidents were also iconic. In 1841, the ninth president, William Henry Harrison, gave the longest speech, lasting two hours, in the cold in the rain, abandoning his coat and umbrella. His imprudence cost him his life: three weeks later he fell ill and died of pneumonia, becoming the shortest-serving president of the United States. George Washington, on the contrary, became the author of the shortest speech, which contained only 135 words, but its content still remains a symbol of brevity and the power of words.
Modern inaugurations often attract attention for their scale and costs. Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration was the most expensive in US history, costing $90 million. That amount exceeded the cost of both of Barack Obama’s inaugurations. At a time when inaugurations are becoming more lavish, the COVID-19 pandemic has made adjustments in 2021, forcing organizers to abandon traditional balls and large audiences.
The inauguration of the president in the USA also has its moments of security. For example, during Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, more than 20,000 National Guardsmen were deployed to maintain order in Washington due to the threat of riots following the storming of the Capitol.
It should be noted that some elements of the ceremony reflect changes in American society. For example, the Capitol, where the president is sworn in, is traditionally open to everyone. But over time, the inauguration festivities became too chaotic, and to avoid pogroms, access to this part of the ceremony was restricted. After these incidents, the inauguration continued to improve. In 1937, the date of the ceremony was moved from March 4 to January 20 to avoid severe weather conditions. But even this did not always save – heavy snowfalls and rains more than once became part of the celebrations.
An interesting fact is that African-Americans first took part in the inaugural parade in 1865, women in 1917, and in 1997 Bill Clinton’s inauguration was broadcast online for the first time.
All official events, including the swearing-in ceremony, are paid for from the state budget, that is, from taxpayers’ money. Instead, gala balls and parades are financed by private sponsors. This model allows you to separate the official and festive parts of the event without overloading the budget.
When a new president is sworn in, his predecessor has already officially terminated his powers. Traditionally, after the ceremony, the former head of state leaves Washington. This happens directly from the slopes of Capitol Hill, usually with the help of a presidential helicopter, which transports him and immediate family members to the chosen location. Since then, the White House has been the exclusive residence of the new president.
The stage for the inauguration is built anew every year, taking into account the architectural features of the Capitol. At the same time, the project begins to be developed in advance, usually a year before the event. Before the ceremony itself, a rehearsal is held, where the main actors are replaced by understudies. Rehearsal is important for coordinating the actions of the services, the orchestra, the police and other event participants. On one such occasion, during a rehearsal, a minor fire occurred near the Capitol, which fortunately caused no damage, but served as a reminder of the importance of safety.
Another interesting element of the inauguration is the so-called “signing ceremony”. It was launched by Ronald Reagan in 1981. After taking the oath, the president, together with his closest aides and leaders of Congress, goes to the Presidential Office, located in the Senate wing, where he signs his first decrees. This symbolizes the official beginning of his work in the position.
Why is the inauguration of the US president on January 20
The date of the US president’s inauguration — January 20 — is the result of important historical changes dictated by the need to adapt the political process to new conditions. Initially, the inauguration had a different date, which remained unchanged for a long time. However, the development of society, technology and the need for a faster transfer of power have led to significant changes in this procedure.
In 1789, when the first president of the United States, George Washington, took office, his inauguration took place on April 30. This date was chosen due to the length of the preparation of the new government and the organizational procedures after the first elections. However, this was the exception rather than the rule.
In 1797, Congress designated March 4 as the official day for the inauguration of the new government, and this date became permanent for the inaugurations of subsequent presidents. For 140 years, it was March 4 that marked the change of power, except when presidents were sworn in on a different day due to emergency circumstances, such as the death or resignation of their predecessors.
However, over time, the shortcomings of this date became apparent. Technological progress has greatly accelerated the counting of votes and the movement of voters, making the four-month delay between the election and the inauguration of the president irrelevant. In addition, during periods of crisis such as the Great Depression, this period of time created additional difficulties for the effective leadership of the country.
In 1933, Congress passed the 20th Amendment to the US Constitution, which shortened the transition period between elections and the beginning of the presidential term. The new date — January 20 — made it possible to ensure a faster transfer of power, increase the efficiency of management and shorten the period of political uncertainty. This change was an important step in the improvement of the US political system. It’s important to note that even with the new date, there are some exceptions. If January 20 falls on a Sunday, the official swearing-in ceremony is held in private, and public celebrations are postponed to January 21.
Who is invited to the inauguration of the President of the United States
The inauguration of the President of the United States always arouses considerable interest in the world, but the protocol of this event has remained almost unchanged for more than a century. Since 1874, foreign leaders have not been invited to the inauguration of American presidents, which emphasizes the domestic nature of this ceremony. Instead, diplomats representing their countries are invited to the event. However, anyone can attend the inauguration with a free ticket, which is usually distributed by representatives of the inauguration committee. You can often get such tickets even at the approaches to Capitol Hill. However, access to the stage where the ceremony takes place is limited to select individuals such as members of the president’s family, congressmen and other dignitaries. Standing areas at a certain distance are provided for ordinary spectators.
The 2025 inauguration is also marked by special conditions. In particular, due to the coronavirus pandemic back in December, the inaugural committee called on citizens to stay at home and refuse to travel to Washington. The situation became more complicated after the storming of the Capitol on January 6, which forced the authorities to introduce additional security measures. For example, the National Mall, where more than two million people gathered during the inauguration of Barack Obama, will be closed to visitors.
The upcoming ceremony has sparked a wave of discussion because of Donald Trump’s decision to invite several foreign leaders. Such a move violates the established political tradition of the United States. In particular, the presidents of Argentina and El Salvador were invited to the inauguration. Argentina’s president, Javier Millay, has already confirmed his participation, while El Salvador’s leader, Naib Bukele, is still hesitant due to security concerns. Special attention was drawn by Donald Trump’s invitation to the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. However, the Chinese leader refused to participate in the inauguration, which will be attended by the Chinese ambassador and his wife, which is in line with the generally accepted practice. It is noteworthy that Xi Jinping’s invitation did not come through diplomatic channels as a surprise for Beijing and US allies. Chinese officials, accustomed to a well-established protocol, were left puzzled, not understanding Trump’s true intentions. This only added intrigue to an event that is already under the scrutiny of the entire world.
The news that Donald Trump did not invite Volodymyr Zelensky to his inauguration caused a wave of discussion among Ukrainians and even some surprise. For many, it looked like a diplomatic gesture with a hidden meaning. However, it is worth clarifying once again: leaders of other countries traditionally do not receive invitations to the inauguration ceremony of the US president, this is a purely domestic political event. Its main goal is the symbolic transfer of power and the unity of the nation. American politicians, members of Congress, the Supreme Court, representatives of the media and invited guests from among citizens are usually present at the ceremony. As for Trump’s statement that he is ready to receive Zelensky if he decides to come, it is more of a diplomatic gesture than a violation of protocol. Leaders of foreign states can attend the ceremony only in private, without official status.
In the history of the United States, there have been several occasions when presidents did not participate in the inauguration of their successors. The reasons for this were different, and they are not always related to a personal attitude towards the successor. For example, the second US president, John Adams, after his defeat in the 1800 election, was so upset that he decided to leave Washington and not attend Thomas Jefferson’s inauguration. A similar situation was repeated by the sixth president, John Quincy Adams, in 1829, leaving the city to avoid attending the swearing-in ceremony of Andrew Jackson, with whom he had a strained relationship.
In 1841, the eighth president, Martin van Buren, also failed to appear at the inauguration of William Harrison. Historians note that their relationship was friendly, and the probable reason for the absence could be the illness of Van Buren’s son. In 1869, Andrew Johnson, who had previously survived an impeachment attempt, refused to attend the inauguration of Ulysses Grant.
Another case occurred in 1921, when Woodrow Wilson was unable to attend Warren Harding’s inauguration due to a serious health condition. Two years earlier, Wilson had suffered a severe stroke, but still arrived at the Capitol in a car with his successor. In 1974, Richard Nixon, who left office early after the Watergate scandal, was also not present at Gerald Ford’s inauguration, because he left Washington even before he officially lost his presidential powers. These cases are exceptions to the general tradition of transfers of power in the US, which are usually accompanied by the solemn presence of former and newly elected leaders.
It is interesting that, unlike Donald Trump, who missed the inauguration of Joe Biden in January 2021, the current US president suggested that he may attend the inauguration of his predecessor. Responding to journalists’ questions about possible participation in this event, Biden noted with a slight irony: “I have good manners, unlike him.”
Therefore, the inauguration of the US president is not only a solemn ceremony, but also a symbol of the inheritance of power, which demonstrates the strength of democratic traditions. It is an event where the past and the future meet on the slopes of Capitol Hill, and the country turns its gaze to a new era. At the same time, it combines human ambitions, political intrigues and the game of interests. Each time, this ceremony becomes a kind of test for both the elected president and his opponents. At the same time, it is especially funny how those who only yesterday criticized or mocked Donald Trump are now trying to get closer to him and “fall into his hand” in the hope of maintaining political influence or getting their own benefit. This is not a new phenomenon – history has repeatedly proven that a change in political leader is often accompanied by a sudden change in attitudes towards him. Power has a magnetism that is hard to resist, and even its critics sooner or later become part of this ritual worship.
Oksana Ishchenko
