Every four years on January 20, the presidential candidate elected the previous November is sworn into the presidency in Washington, D.C. The president takes the oath of office and is officially sworn in by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The oath of office has been a tradition ever since the first president, George Washington, was elected in 1789. On Jan. 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump became president for a second non-consecutive term, following the four-year term of Joe Biden.
It is a formal transition from one president to another. This process is the American way of giving a respectful introduction to the country’s leader over their term.
“It is a unique role in American government; it is the peaceful transfer of power,” Government and psychology teacher Mr. Randy Royal said. No matter the politic views of the other person, the inauguration is an experience has created from the beginning of the country for one leader to pass that role to another.
In the January 18, 2025, USA today edition Mary Walrath-Holdridge said, “Around noon, the president-elect recites the oath in accordance with Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution,” so in case any type of delay in the process of the oath of office occurs, there is always a leader of the country.
The entire event is an American experience created when George Washington was elected and has continued to live on over the years to create a peaceful involvement so that no matter who the leader is that they can successfully handle America.
“To be able to say I was there is cool,” Modern American teacher Mr. Shawn Young said. Young attended the 1993 inauguration of Bill Clinton. He said it was interesting to get to be a spectator that day. The inauguration is typically held outside so that many spectators can come and watch this event.
Due to the weather conditions this year, Donald Trump’s second inauguration was held in the Capitol rotunda. This change limited the number of people who were able to spectate, and many streamed the event from their homes. (Photo Courtesy of USA Today.)
The McNicholas Milestone 