The Inauguration of a United States’ president is an event that has held the eyes of the world since our very first one in 1789. Much has changed since the day George Washington took the oath of office in New York City. Traditions have expanded, pomp and ceremony have become more pronounced, and world interest has only increased.

There are only two guidelines given for a presidential inauguration in the United States Constitution: the date on which it will take place and the words of the oath.

Everything that is now considered routine for an inauguration has simply been passed down as tradition from president to president.

Each time a president takes office is historic, but some of these moments have stood out more than others. For instance, Franklin Roosevelt was inaugurated four times and Lyndon Johnson took the oath aboard Air Force One following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Our 60th inauguration is set to be yet another history making day as President Trump takes office for the second time.

Oldest President Inaugurated

Trump will take office at 78 years, 220 days old. This makes him the oldest US president to take office. By the end of his term, he will be 82 years old.

The five Presidents that rank behind him in age at the time of their inaugurations are:

• Joe Biden

• Ronald Reagan

• William Henry Harrison

• James Buchanan

•George H. W. Bush

Non-Consecutive Terms

President Trump is making history as only the second US President to serve his terms non-consecutively. Grover Cleveland was the first president to do so when he was reelected in 1893 after a four year break in terms.

National Period of Mourning

Another rare occurrence is that President Trump’s inauguration will take place during the time of national mourning for the death of Jimmy Carter. The only other time this has happened was when Richard Nixon was inaugurated for his second term and the nation was mourning the death of Harry Truman. Because of the time of national mourning, many American flags will still be flying at half mast when President Trump is sworn into office.

Several states have announced that they will break away from the national mourning protocol on Election Day in order to celebrate the inauguration of President Trump. This list includes:

• Alabama

• Florida

• Idaho

•Indiana

• Iowa

• Nebraska

• North Dakota

• South Carolina

• Tennessee

• Texas

House Speaker Mike Johnson has also announced that U. S. Capitol flags will fly at full staff on Inauguration Day.

Foreign Dignitaries Invited

This is also the first inauguration where the incoming President has invited world leaders to attend. Foreign heads of state have never before been present at a US president’s inauguration.

Several foreign leaders that have been invited include:

• Chinese president Xi Jinping

• Argentinian president Javier Millei

• Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni

• Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele

“This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just allies but our adversaries and our competitors too.”

Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt

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