Political | Process

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, returning to office amid pomp and ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda.

Trump was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, shortly after JD Vance took the oath as vice president.

Trump was flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and his children as he took the oath. Upon conclusion, he shook hands with outgoing President Joe Biden and others on the dais.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Rev. Franklin Graham offered invocations before the ceremony. “Look what God has done,” Graham said, to applause from the crowd, and then alluded to Trump’s attempted assassination last summer. “Father, when Donald Trump’s enemies thought he was down and out, you and you alone saved his life and raised him up with strength and power by your mighty hand.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic chair of the inaugural committee, paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and to democracy in calling the ceremony to order. She also quoted Bob Dylan, saying it was critical to “ensure that our nation’s democracy is our shelter from the storm.”

Earlier in the day, outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted Trump and his First Lady Melania Trump to the White House.

“Welcome home,” Biden said.

Biden issued a flurry of pardons in his final hours in office, including granting pardons to the members of the Jan. 6 Committee, which investigated Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Biden also pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci.