In a historic return to power, Donald Trump was officially inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on Monday. The ceremony, held indoors at the Capitol Rotunda due to frigid temperatures, marked a stark contrast to the tumultuous events of his previous inauguration in 2017, which was overshadowed by the January 6 Capitol riots.
Trump inauguration: A glamorous affair
The inauguration was attended by an array of high-profile guests, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and international dignitaries such as Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The event not only celebrated Trump’s return but also featured several moments that quickly went viral on social media.
Viral moments from the inauguration
Trump forgets placing a hand on Bible during oath ceremony: In a surprising oversight, Trump appeared to forget the customary act of placing his hand on a Bible during the oath-taking ceremony. Images captured his wife, Melania Trump, holding two Bibles while he did not place his hand on either.
Melania Trump’s ‘hamburgler’ outfit: The First Lady turned heads with her sharply tailored navy coat and wide-brimmed hat, which inspired a wave of memes comparing her look to various fictional characters, including the ‘Hamburgler’ and ‘Spy vs. Spy.’ Observers humorously suggested she might be in mourning.
‘Bad Boy’ Zuckerberg: A video from the ceremony showed Mark Zuckerberg seated next to Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and briefly glancing at Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez, igniting chatter online about his apparent distraction.
Donald Trump’s sword dance: During the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball, Trump cut a cake designed to resemble the new Air Force One using a saber before performing an impromptu dance with it, which quickly gained traction on social media.
Melania Trump’s ‘conservative’ hat: The First Lady’s hat not only made a fashion statement but also obstructed her husband’s attempts to kiss her during the ceremony, leading to images of their awkward moment circulating widely online.
Elon Musk’s controversial gesture: Musk drew criticism for a hand gesture that resembled a Nazi salute during the event. He later took to social media to downplay the incident, claiming that his critics needed “better dirty tricks” and dismissing their accusations as tired.
As Trump embarks on his second term, he has signaled intentions to pursue an aggressive agenda focused on immigration reform and energy policy changes. His inaugural address is expected to outline these plans and set the tone for his administration’s priorities over the next four years.
With this inauguration marking a unique moment in American political history—being only the second time a president has served non-consecutive terms—Trump’s return is poised to reshape both domestic and international landscapes as he seeks to implement his vision for America.
