On January 20, 2025, the United States will celebrate a historic moment with the presidential inauguration. It is an event that coincides with the first long weekend of the year. This is thanks to the federal holiday, established to commemorate Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Day.
During this day, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will officially take office in a ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. It is an event that will undoubtedly capture the attention of the whole world, considering the importance of the U.S. presidency for the world.
Why is January 20 a holiday and who is affected?
Inauguration Day is a federal holiday that applies exclusively to those working in public areas of Washington DC. The holiday was established in 1965 and is observed every four years to coincide with the presidential inauguration.
January 20, as we said, also coincides with the celebration of “Martin Luther King Day”, a federal holiday established in 1983. Recall that this date is to commemorate the legacy and life of the civil rights activist. Annually, this commemoration is celebrated on the third Monday of January, in proximity to the birth of the social referent, which occurred on January 15, 1929.
Who will work on January 20 and which stores will be open?
The law establishes that federal offices must close during official holidays. This guarantees a paid day off for government employees. However, the decision of whether to close or remain open remains in the hands of other establishments such as schools, supermarkets, restaurants or banks.
In general, institutions such as banks, post offices, schools and the stock exchange are closed on Martin Luther King Day. Meanwhile, pharmacies, supermarkets and restaurants usually operate normally, since it is a day with a lot of movement in terms of sales.
With the double federal holiday that will take place next January 20, the United States will experience its first long weekend of 2025. This is established in the holiday calendar published on the national government’s website. There you can also consult the holidays for the whole year.
Where will Donald Trump’s inauguration take place?
Following tradition, the swearing-in ceremony of the president-elect, Donald Trump, will be held on the steps of the Capitol. This is because it is an emblematic place of great historical significance for American democracy. At this event, all members of Congress, prominent government figures and other special guests will be present. In addition, it will be broadcast live across the country, allowing millions of citizens to follow this significant event.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is in charge of organizing this event. At the moment, this is the confirmed schedule for that day:
- Inauguration Ceremony: Donald Trump and J.D. Vance will be sworn in before the Constitution.
- Inaugural address: the president will address a message to the nation upon taking office.
- Pass in review: a military display that traditionally follows the swearing-in ceremony.
Special guests for the inauguration of the new U.S. president
Next January 20, the United States will welcome multiple international figures, who will arrive in the country to watch Donald Trump’s inauguration. Among the most prominent are: Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish Vox party; Daniel Noboa, president of Ecuador; Javier Milei, president of Argentina; Elon Musk, who financially backed the campaign to Trump and many more.
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