A member of the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets participates in an inauguration rehearsal on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, January 12, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images
Donald TrumpOn Monday, the presidential transition team released a schedule of official receptions, meetings and other events that will accompany his inauguration as the 47th U.S. president next week.
The four-day schedule includes a fireworks display and three VIP events at Trump's golf course outside Washington, as well as a celebratory MAGA rally on the eve of his inauguration ceremony.
It also includes three inaugural balls, a relatively small number by recent presidential standards — and one that seems even more modest considering the record amount of money at the disposal of Trump's inaugural committee.
Vance's Trump Inaugural Committee has raised more than $170 million and is on track to ultimately raise more than $200 million for inaugural events and operations, news outlets, including NBC News they reported.
The nonprofit commission is tasked with planning and organizing much of the pageantry that traditionally accompanies presidential transitions.
This does not include Trump's inauguration on Capitol Hill or his inaugural speech, which are paid for by a special joint congressional committee.
Beyond the balls, several of Trump's events will take place at his Virginia golf course, a break from recent inaugurations that mostly kept events in Washington
Unlike 2021, when President Joe Biden staged a fireworks display over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the fireworks at Trump's club will explode more than 20 miles from the Capitol, out of sight of most of the public.
Trump's second inaugural committee, like his first in 2017, will once again have significantly more financial resources than those of other recent presidents, while also hosting fewer events.
Former President Barack ObamaFor example, the 2009 inauguration included 10 official balls and dozens of other unofficial events. His inaugural committee raised the bar $53 millionthe then record.
Former President Bill Clinton attended the record-breaking conference 14 official balls during its second inauguration in 1997, which reportedly raised less than $24 million.
President Joe Biden in 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it did not organize any ball.
Trump's massive fundraising and relatively modest schedule reflects the circumstances of his 2017 inauguration, which raised $107 million and spent more than $97 million in just two days of events.
This unprecedented spike in spending amounted to approximately $37,000 per minute, more than four times the $8,600 per minute spent during Obama's first inauguration. OpenSecrets calculated in 2018.
Trump's current inaugural committee did not immediately respond to CNBC's questions about fundraising and spending plans.
As Trump promises to overhaul U.S. economic policy — including by imposing potentially dramatic tariffs while cutting all sorts of other taxes and regulations — some top CEOs and companies appear eager to warm up their once-frosty relations with him.
That includes the inaugural committee, which received multimillion-dollar donations from a wave of companies, including many tech giants, that declined to contribute to the 2017 inauguration.
Last week, outgoing Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan suggested this to CNBC Amazon AND Facebook parent Meta can work to get “dear deal“from the next Trump administration.
Perhaps in response to the increased interest in currying favor with Trump, the inaugural committee is reportedly asking major donors to contribute at least $1 million – twice the amount requested in 2017 – for the opportunity to meet directly with the president – or vice president-elect, – reported the Guardian.
Here is the latest schedule of events provided by the Trump inaugural committee:
Saturday, January 18, 2025
- Presidential reception and fireworks at Trump Sterling
- Vice President's office reception and dinner
Sunday, January 19, 2025
- Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
Wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Make America Great Again. The winning rally
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks - Candlelight dinner
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks
Monday, January 20, 2025
- Service in the church of St. John
- Tea at the White House
- Swearing-in ceremony
US Capitol - Farewell to the former President and Vice President
- Ceremony to leave the US Capitol
- Ceremony in the President's Signature Hall
- JCCIC Congress Luncheon
- Soldiers President Review
- Presidential Parade
Pennsylvania Avenue - Oval Office Signing Ceremony at the White House
- Commander-in-Chief Ball
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks - Freedom Inaugural Ball
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks - Ball of Stars
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks
Tuesday, January 21, 2025