12:30 Report — Trump hits the ground running

12:30 REPORT

Welcome to Inauguration Day, with ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol underway indoors amid absolutely frigid weather in Washington. In today's issue:

Trump swearing in, inaugural speech.
Biden pardons Fauci, Milley, Jan. 6 panel, family members.
Trump eyes border emergency, Capitol riot pardons.
What we know about Trump's executive order blitz.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips & feedback to cmartel@thehill.com. Someone forward this to you? Sign up.

He's back:

It’s official. Donald Trump is once again the president of the United States. Chief Justice John Roberts just delivered the oath of office (correctly this time 😉), and President Trump is now taking his victory lap in the Capitol rotunda.

"We will be the envy of every nation,” Trump began in his augural address to America. 📸 View from the room

But he quickly pivoted to slamming the outgoing administration and its policies.

“My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal taking place and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom.”

Former President Biden sat right behind Trump, watching while his successor bashed his legacy. “America’s decline is over,” Trump continued.

So far, everything has gone to plan. The Bidens had a friendly greeting with the Trumps. Former Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama showed up to support the incoming president, despite their clear differences and disputes over the years.

The ceremony is very much scripted, but the unplanned moments gave interesting character and context to the event. At one point when Obama and Bush arrived to watch the ceremony, a staffer turned to Bush and asked, “Are you going to behave?”

“Nope,” Obama chimed in with a deadpan expression. The Washington Post’s Emily Davies posted video of the moment. 📹 The clip is incredible

Obama and Bush have been buddy-buddy, most notably at the funeral of the late President Jimmy Carter.

At one point right before the ceremony, CNN’s anchors noticed former second gentleman Doug Emhoff giving former first lady Jill Biden a hug. The two stood there mostly expressionless with the occasional requisite smile.

Just a few feet away, tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk 📹 sat with with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. And behind congressional leadership, podcaster Joe Rogan 📸 was spotted by Politico’s Eugene Daniels.

📹 Watch the tech leaders mingle

First lady Melania Trump stood next to her husband wearing a custom navy coat from Adam Lippes and a matching hat by Eric Javits, according to Page Six.

Meanwhile at the White House, photos have been taken down at the West Wing. The Daily Mail’s Emily Goodin notes that just empty frames are left. Snow is lightly falling and there’s a moving truck outside. 📸 Photos

And the White House’s website now features a photo of Trump pointing with the caption, “AMERICA IS BACK.”

🗨️ Follow today’s live blog

💻 Watch Trump’s remarks live

Trump is ready to hit the ground running with a blizzard of executive orders. He’s expected to immediately declare a national emergency at the U.S. border, one of 10 immigration-related executive orders.

This moment is significant: Trump carried out one of the most extraordinary political comebacks in U.S. history. He received the oath of office in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, the same backdrop where a pro-Trump mob stormed 1,475 days ago, refusing to accept the 2020 presidential election results. While some notable political figures are skipping today (specifically former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former first lady Michelle Obama and former second lady Karen Pence), most dignitaries are there.

➤ THE RUN OF THE SHOW:

⬅️ What’s happened so far?: The Trumps attended a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The Bidens then greeted the Trumps at the White House and hosted them for a coffee and tea reception in the Blue Room. The couples left the White House and traveled together in a limo to the U.S. Capitol.

➡️ What’s still to come: Trump will hold a ceremony to issue executive orders and sign nominations. Trump and Vice President Vance will then attend a congressional luncheon. The presidential parade is up next but has been moved into the Capital One Arena due to cold weather. Following the parade, Trump returns to the White House and then attends three inaugural balls. 📆 Full schedule with times

➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM INAUGURATION:

A Speaker everywhere you look: Watch former Speakers Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) 📹 enter the Capitol rotunda. Hmm, where’s former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)? 🤔

No, he did not: CBS News’s Scott MacFarlane 📸 posted a photo of Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) showing up at the Capitol in shorts. Just fyi: It feels like it’s 15 degrees right now.

🚁 Marine One was in place early this morning: The helicopter was on the east front of the Capitol this morning to take Biden from Washington. That’s a beautiful sunrise. 📸 Photo

Biden posted a selfie: “One more selfie for the road. We love you, America,” Biden posted on X. 📸 The selfie

Get ready for Trump to sign EOs like they’re going out of style:

President Trump is poised to move quickly with a slew of executive orders, looking to immediately fulfill promises he made on the campaign trail.

Immigration: Trump will declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border to mobilize the military. He’ll speed up construction of the border wall. He will end birthright citizenship and designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. What we know about Trump’s 10 border executive orders.

Energy: Trump will issue a national emergency related to energy. He will also sign orders to utilize U.S. energy (especially Alaska’s natural resources.) What we know.

Gender identity: Trump will sign an executive order that will only recognize two sexes, male and female. He will also end DEI practices in the federal government. What we know.

TikTok: Trump says he’s going to delay the TikTok ban. What we know.

Jan. 6 pardons: Trump is expected to pardon some of the Jan. 6 rioters, though his team has been vague on specifics. What we know.

The Gulf of Mexico got a new name: Trump will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. What we know.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said to expect “shock and awe” with his initial policy changes. 👀

💡 Why this is strategic: Trump made lots of promises to his base. Instead of debating what to prioritize, he can start to tackle it all at once for supporters, while forcing critics to pick and choose which ones to forcefully oppose. The drawback of this approach is that it takes individual attention away from each policy change.

➤ SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO START FRESH:

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that Senate Republicans want to forget the “years of misgivings and mistrust that sometimes boiled over into all-out war between the disruptor-in-chief and members of Washington’s traditional GOP establishment.” Read Bolton’s reporting

🎁 Biden’s Departure

Joe Biden had one last parting gift:

Now-former President Biden issued several preemptive pardons to prominent public servants and his family members this morning to shield them from potential “revenge” from President Trump.

Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who led the nation’s COVID-19 pandemic response
Retired Gen. Mark Milley, former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Members and staff for the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Several police officers who testified in the Jan. 6 probe.

^ BREAKING – Biden added a few more at the last minute: Biden announced pardons for his family members just a few minutes before Trump took the oath. The blanket pardons were granted to his brother, James Biden; Sara Jones Biden, his sister-in-law; his sister, Valerie Biden Owens; John T. Owens, his brother-in-law; and Francis Biden, Biden’s other brother. What we know

Why this is notable: These individuals are not under investigation. Biden has stretched the limits of presidential pardoning power by issuing these pardons.

An open question: Whether all these public servants will accept Biden’s preemptive pardons. So far, Fauci thanked Biden. Milley said he’s “deeply grateful.” Former Capitol Hill Police officer Harry Dunn said he’s “eternally grateful” for the pardon.

➤ WHAT HAS TRUMP SAID ABOUT THIS?:

Trump texted NBC News’s Kristen Welker that Biden’s preemptive pardons are “disgraceful.”

FWIW: Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) questioned the decision, arguing that “it raises doubt upon what they did.”

🎆 Inauguration Weekend

A dressed-up DC, but not a local one:

President Trump and his supporters galivanted around Washington over the weekend, celebrating his inauguration with a number of events.

That obviously included a rally: Trump held a rally at Capital One Arena, taking a victory lap in the nation’s capital. Five takeaways

Which did not feel like the usual D.C.: Washington, D.C., and the surrounding suburbs are very Democratic. Combined with the bitter cold and a holiday weekend, the city felt very quiet this weekend aside from the political tourists.

➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM INAUGURATION WEEKEND:

Doug Mills is an incredible photographer: Trump danced to “Y.M.C.A.” while on stage with Village People. Check out 📸photographer Doug Mills’s photo. And here’s a 📹 video of the dance.

📸 Watch Trump arrive at Blair House

A snowy Sunday in D.C.: Watch these people walk through the snow in formal inauguration outfits.

Spotted at Osteria Mozza: Former President Obama. Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman noted that he was greeted with applause. 📸 Photo

📸 Watch the Trumps walk off the plane at Dulles

Spotted at the White House: Moving trucks. 📸 Here’s a photo

🐝 Internet Buzz

🧀 Celebrate: Today is National Cheese Lover’s Day!

🌠 It’s raining stardust: Debris from a SpaceX rocket test lit up the sky over the Caribbean. If I saw this without knowing what it was, I would panic.📹 Watch the video

🍽️ If you’re in D.C.: Lots of restaurants have food and drink specials today. Eater posted a helpful list.

📆 On The Agenda

The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Vance are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern)

5 p.m.: Trump holds an Oval Office signing event. 💻 Livestream
8 p.m.: Trump attends three official inaugural balls. 💻 Livestream

👋 And Finally…

It’s been such a chaotic morning. Enjoy this video of an unbothered king snoozing in the living room. Not even a Roomba could interrupt his zen.

Stay Engaged

Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com. A friend forward this to you? Subscribe here.

View past issues of 12:30 Report here and check out other newsletters from The Hill here. See you next time!

Topics

12:30 Report — Trump ceremony moved inside; TikTok ban upheld

{beacon} 12:30 REPORT Happy Friday! If you’re planning to attend the inauguration Monday, don’t pull a William Henry Harrison by not properly dressing for the cold. It’s been a busy morning — ...
The Hill - 3d
12:30 Report — Pelosi joins Michelle Obama in skipping Trump ceremony

Plus: DeSantis names Rubio successor {beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s Thursday. Do you want the good news or the bad news about Inauguration Day? The good news is that it’ll be sunny! 🌞 The bad news is ...
The Hill - 4d
12:30 Report — Hegseth faces Senate grilling

{beacon} 12:30 REPORT Happy Monday, Washington Commanders fans! Someone, please check in on how The Tampa International Airport is doing today after last night’s wild-card game. We’re seven days ...
The Hill - Jan. 13
12:30 Report — Trump avoids jailtime, fine in hush money case

📱Plus: Supreme Court considers TikTok’s fate. {beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s finally Friday. The Washington, D.C., area may get another 1-2 inches of snow tonight! ❄️☃️ Ah, this is reminding me of ...
The Hill - Jan. 10
12:30 Report — Trump, Obama, Harris dynamics on full display at Carter funeral

Obama and Trump have been chatting... {beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s Thursday. Today is a day of mourning for the late former President Jimmy Carter. The stock markets and U.S. Postal Service are ...
The Hill - Jan. 9
12:30 Report — Trump presses idea of taking over Greenland

{beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s Tuesday. Washington, D.C., just looks so magical from the snow. Another winter storm is possible this weekend, but that’s still up in the air (ha, get it?). Here’s what’s ...
The Hill - Jan. 7
12:30 Report — Congress meets to certify Trump's win, mark Jan. 6 anniversary

{beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s Monday, Jan. 6. Washington, D.C., looks absolutely magical this morning. Too bad the snowstorm happens to be on a constitutionally mandated workday on Capitol Hill. 😅 ...
The Hill - Jan. 6
Sunday shows preview: US reels after New Year's attacks; 119th Congress hits ground running

The U.S. is reeling from a pair of New Year’s Day attacks in Nevada and Louisiana that have taken multiple lives and injured dozens. Authorities said the suspect in the New Orleans terror attack, ...
The Hill - Jan. 4
12:30 Report — Johnson fights for Speakership

{beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s the first Friday of 2025! Happy first day of the 119th Congress to all who celebrate. It sure is off to an eventful start. Here’s what’s happening: Mike Johnson is ...
The Hill - Jan. 3