IL Guide To Donald Trump’s Inauguration As 47th President

ILLINOIS — Former President Donald J. Trump will become the nation’s 47th president Monday after a weekend of glitzy inaugural festivities.

A handful of Democratic lawmakers from across the country have said they’ll spurn the Republican president-elect’s inauguration, but most are expected to be in attendance Monday as Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance take the oath of office in the nation’s 60th presidential inauguration.

Swearing-in ceremonies begin about noon local time, or 11 a.m. Central, in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington. On Friday, the decision was made to move the ceremony from the grounds to the rotunda because of extreme cold weather forecast for Monday. Other inaugural events are not affected.

Here’s what we know about Illinois lawmakers' plans:

• The Illinois Republican Party & Trump Vance Inaugural Committee will be attending the inauguration and is inviting constituents to join them. "Eight years to the day after being sworn in as the 45th President, Donald J. Trump makes his triumphant return to the very same steps to deliver his second Inaugural Address. Come stand shoulder to shoulder with thousands of your fellow Americans and witness history," the party said.
• Congresswoman Della Ramirez, who represents Illinois' 3rd District, told Newsweek last month she would not be attending the inauguration.
• Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) said he will not be attending the inauguration, releasing the following statement, "On Jan. 20, I could attend the inauguration and listen to the President-elect debase the office of President of the United States. Or I could spend the day with family, honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his patriotism, and the dream he had for the United States. I choose the latter."
• Michelle Obama, wife of former President Barack Obama, announced Tuesday she will not be attending the inauguration. The Chicago native did not provide an explanation for the decision, reports CNN.
• The Springfield State-Journal Register is reporting the following Illinois politicians are attending: U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Highland Park), U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Oakland), U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield), U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-West Chicago), U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Peoria), U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Naperville)
• The newspaper is also reporting the following Illinois politicians will not attend the inauguration: U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Chicago), U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson)

Local Chicagoland Watch Parties

In Chicago, an inauguration viewing party is planned at Rebar, a high-end lounge located at Trump International Hotel and Tower, 401 N. Wabash Ave. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. Tickets are $225.

WLS-890AM is hosting a watch party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, at Foxfire, 17 West State St., Geneva.

In Aurora, AM-560 is hosting an inauguration brunch at Saddle Up at Q Saloon and Eatery, 4440 Ogden Ave. Tickets are $47.

What’s The Schedule?

The weekend kicked off Saturday with a fireworks show at Trump’s golf club in Sterling, Virginia, followed by for Trump’s cabinet picks. Trump was scheduled to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and then hold a campaign-style “MAGA Victory” rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.

Performers at the swearing-in ceremony include Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio, The American disco group The Village People, whose “Y M.C.A.” became a campaign staple, will perform at one of three inaugural balls Monday evening.

Tuesday, Trump’s first full day as the 47th president, will include a National Prayer Service in the morning.

Click here for the full schedule of inaugural festivities.

Fewer Boycotts Than In 2017

Fewer lawmakers are expected to boycott Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president than when he was sworn in as the 45th president in 2017. Eight years ago, more than 60 members of Congress, led by the late Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, boycotted the event. Some of those people — but not all — are expected to again decline to attend the ceremonies again this year.

U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman of California skipped the inauguration eight years ago but told Politico “it’s different now.”

“I’ve talked to colleagues who see it differently. I feel like, whether we like it or not, this guy was just elected by the country with full disclosure of all of his ugliness,” Huffman said. “This time around, I feel like I need to stand there to show that he’s not pushing me out of my role.”

Other Democrats who have said they’ll skip it are Reps. Judy Chu of California, Adam Smith and Pramilia Jayapal of Washington, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Dan Beyer of Virginia and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, according to Politico.

Fewer Protests Expected

Requests for protest permits are down this year and fewer people are expected to demonstrate than in 2017, according to the National Park Service. Some protests have satellite events around the country.

The People’s March on Washington on Saturday, “a day of joyful resistance,” was expected to bring about 50,000 people to Freedom Plaza and the Washington Monument grounds. Organizers of the event include the Women’s March, whose 2017 rally drew a crowd of about 470,000 people. Satellite People’s March events are taking place across the country.

• Chicago People's March for Justice, 1 p.m. Jan. 20, Jane M. Byrne Plaza Park, 180 East Pearson St., Chicago.

The Answer Coalition’s National Day of Action rally and march in protest of the Trump administration’s “extreme right billionaire agenda” starts at 11 a.m. ET at Malcolm X Park/ Meridian Hill Park in Washington. Satellite events are planned in dozens of cities.

The Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network’s MLK Day 2025 demonstration kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Monday at McPherson Square, then march to Metropolitan AME Church at noon. Organizers expect this event to draw about 1,500 people.

Inauguration week ends with the National March for Life’s annual rally at the Washington Monument grounds at noon, with a march along Constitution Avenue and around the U.S. Capitol to the Supreme Court at 1 p.m. About 150,000 people are expected to attend, according to the National Park Service. Illinois residents can register to participate in this march.

Observe MLK Day Instead?

Inauguration Day coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is always observed on the third Monday in January. Because it’s an official U.S. holiday, all but essential federal and state workers will have the day off. Some local governments and private businesses observe it is a paid-time-off holiday, too.

Since the day honoring King’s civil rights legacy became a federal holiday in 1983, MLK Day has been observed as a day of volunteer service in local communities. Because the holiday is relatively new, it has coincided with Inauguration Day only one other time, in 1997 when former President Bill Clinton was sworn into office — although former President Barack Obama took the oath for his second term on MLK Day 2013. That’s because Jan. 20 fell on a Sunday that year.

Bernice King, the slain civil rights leader’s youngest daughter, told The Independent that she’s happy Inauguration Day falls on the same day as the holiday honoring her father because it’s a reminder there’s still work to do.

“We cannot retreat or recoil,” King told the publication. “We have to commit ourselves to continuing the mission of protecting freedom, justice and democracy in the spirit of my father.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.