The official inauguration ceremony for Donald Trump, the 47th President-elect of the United States, returning to the White House after four years, will be held indoors for the first time in 40 years on January 20 (local time) due to an "Arctic cold wave." Trump, who declared, "For at least the first day of my presidency, I will be a dictator," is expected to issue about 100 executive orders on his first day in office, including deportation of illegal immigrants, tariff increases, and support for fossil fuels, signaling the start of the "MAGA (Make America Great Again)" era. On the day before the inauguration, he will hold a "MAGA Victory" rally with his supporters to celebrate his election win and the advent of America First policies that will shake the world.

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Although Trump's official inauguration is scheduled for noon on January 20 Eastern Time (2 a.m. on January 21 Korea Time), inauguration events have already begun as early as January 18, two days before the ceremony. On January 18, Trump traveled from his home in Palm Beach, Florida, to Washington, D.C. He then hosted a party with invited guests at his own golf club in Sterling, Virginia, and watched fireworks.

On January 19, he visited Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Later, he attended the "MAGA Victory" rally held at 3 p.m. at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., an indoor stadium that can accommodate 20,000 people. Performers included country singer Lee Greenwood, who sang "God Bless the U.S.A."?a song Trump used during his campaign?and disco group Village People, known for "Y.M.C.A." Trump himself, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk are expected to take the stage and deliver speeches.

On January 20, the day of Trump's inauguration, temperatures are expected to drop to minus 5 to 8 degrees Celsius due to the Arctic cold wave, so the ceremony will be held not outdoors, but in the Rotunda Hall at the center of the Capitol. The inauguration stage was moved from the Capitol's front lawn to indoors. This is the first time a U.S. presidential inauguration will be held indoors since Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985. The Rotunda Hall can accommodate about 350 people, or around 700 if seats are densely arranged, so only members of Congress, Trump’s second-term Cabinet, and foreign diplomatic envoys are expected to attend.

On the 20th (local time), the 'Rotunda Hall' at the center of the U.S. Capitol, where Donald Trump, the 47th President-elect of the United States, will hold his inauguration ceremony. Photo by AP Yonhap News

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Among foreign leaders, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei, both considered "far-right" leaders, will attend. It is rare for foreign heads of state to attend a U.S. presidential inauguration, but these hardline right-wing leaders received special invitations from Trump. Trump also invited Chinese President Xi Jinping, but China will send Vice President Han Zheng as a special envoy. From South Korea, Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyundong and his spouse will attend.

Trump will begin his first day as president with a service at St. John's Episcopal Church. He will then move to the White House for a tea meeting with President Joe Biden before heading to the Rotunda Hall for the inauguration ceremony. After taking the oath of office with his hand on the Bible before Chief Justice John Roberts, he will deliver an inaugural address signaling the start of the MAGA era. The ceremony will conclude with performances of congratulatory songs and the national anthem, followed by farewells to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

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Trump will have a luncheon with the Joint Congressional Committee and receive a military review before moving to the Oval Office in the White House to begin his first official duties. He is expected to sign a slew of executive orders, including anti-immigration measures anticipated as his first order, tariff hikes on China, Canada, and Mexico, expanded support for fossil fuels, and a suspension of the TikTok ban law. He is expected to issue about 100 executive orders on his first day alone, launching an effort to "erase Biden." That evening, he will attend a total of three inaugural balls.

On January 21, the second day of his presidency, he is expected to launch a large-scale operation to deport illegal immigrants by mobilizing 100 to 200 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago is the political base of former President Barack Obama and a Democratic stronghold.