# Canonical recap data for Trump Inaugurated as 45th US President (2017)
# Source: https://recap.at/2017/trump-inauguration
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: trump-inauguration
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2017/trump-inauguration"
title: Trump Inaugurated as 45th US President
aliases:
- Trump's inauguration
- January 20, 2017
- 45th presidential inauguration
subtitle: The inauguration of Donald Trump marked a decisive political realignment and inaugurated an unprecedented presidency that reshaped American domestic and foreign policy.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2017-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2017
decade: 2010
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Trump Inaugurated as 45th US President (2017) - United States.
summaryLong: Trump Inaugurated as 45th US President (2017) - United States.
lede: Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017, in front of an estimated 600,000 people on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. His victory in the 2016 election-despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots-upended conventional political predictions and marked a significant shift in American governance, characterized by his campaign's "America First" platform and promises to overturn aspects of the Obama administration's legacy.
heroImageUrl: "https://live.staticflickr.com/750/32440523955_0984b35066_b.jpg"
heroImageCredit: "\"US Presidential Inauguration\" by andrescastellano is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/."
importance: 92
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Date
  value: January 20, 2017
- label: Location
  value: U.S. Capitol and National Mall, Washington, D.C.
- label: Estimated attendance
  value: 600,000 people
- label: Electoral College votes
  value: 304 to 227
- label: Popular vote margin
  value: Trump lost by 2.87 million votes
- label: Chief Justice administering oath
  value: John G. Roberts Jr.
- label: Age upon inauguration
  value: 70 years old (oldest first-term president at that time)
- label: Television viewership
  value: 30.6 million viewers (Fox News, CNN, MSNBC combined)
timeline:
- date: 2016-11-08
  title: 2016 Presidential Election
  description: "Donald Trump won the Electoral College with 304 votes to Hillary Clinton's 227, despite Clinton winning the popular vote. Trump flipped three traditional Democratic states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin."
- date: 2016-12-19
  title: Electoral College Certification
  description: The Electoral College formally cast their votes, confirming Trump's victory. Two electors from Washington state and four from Hawaii voted for alternatives.
- date: 2017-01-20
  title: Trump Inaugurated as 45th President
  description: "Trump took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. at 12:00 p.m. EST on the U.S. Capitol steps before approximately 600,000 attendees on the National Mall."
- date: 2017-01-20
  title: First Executive Orders
  description: Within hours of his inauguration, Trump signed executive orders on the Affordable Care Act, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and border wall construction, signaling immediate policy reversals.
- date: 2017-01-21
  title: Women's March on Washington
  description: The day after inauguration, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people gathered on the National Mall for the Women's March, one of the largest protests in U.S. history.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards"
  title: Academy Awards
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: Trump's inauguration set in motion a series of executive orders and policy reversals on immigration, environmental regulation, and trade that reshaped the federal government's operational priorities within weeks. The event crystallized sharp political divisions that would define American politics through his term, influencing legislative agendas, judicial appointments, and international relations across four years.
categories:
- election
taxonomy:
domain: political
eventTypes:
- regime_change
canonicalClasses:
- governance
- transformation
impactRadius: national
velocity: sudden
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: transition
metaDescription: Donald Trump inaugurated as 45th U.S. president on January 20, 2017. National Mall ceremony, 600,000 attendees.
wikidataQid: Q19020
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: US unemployment rate
  thenValue: 4.8%
  thenYear: 2017
  nowValue: 3.9%
  nowYear: 2024
  note: BLS data, January 2017 vs. latest available
- metric: S&P 500 closing value
  thenValue: 2,271
  thenYear: 2017
  nowValue: 5,670
  nowYear: 2024
  note: January 20, 2017 vs. December 2024 approximate
- metric: US federal debt
  thenValue: $19.9 trillion
  thenYear: 2017
  nowValue: $33.9 trillion
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Treasury data, end of fiscal years
- metric: Trump's approval rating
  thenValue: 46%
  thenYear: 2017
  nowValue: 34%
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Gallup polling at inauguration vs. post-conviction 2024
consequences:
- title: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed
  year: 2017
  description: On December 22, 2017, Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reducing corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% and providing individual tax cuts. The legislation became the signature domestic legislative achievement of Trump's presidency, though critics argued it disproportionately benefited corporations and wealthy individuals while adding to long-term budget deficits.
- title: Paris Climate Agreement withdrawal announced
  year: 2017
  description: On June 1, 2017, Trump announced the US would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, calling it unfair to American workers. The withdrawal took effect on November 4, 2020, making the US the only major economy to leave the accord. The move signaled a sharp pivot from the Obama administration's climate priorities and isolated the US internationally on environmental policy.
- title: Trade war with China initiated
  year: 2018
  description: Beginning in March 2018, Trump imposed tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) imports, triggering retaliation from trading partners. By July 2018, tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods took effect, escalating into a trade war that lasted throughout his presidency and affected consumers and businesses across multiple sectors.
- title: Mueller investigation concluded
  year: 2019
  description: Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted his report on March 22, 2019, concluding there was insufficient evidence to charge Trump with conspiracy regarding Russian interference, though the report outlined multiple episodes where Trump potentially obstructed justice. The report's release became a focal point of partisan conflict over Trump's conduct.
- title: First impeachment acquittal
  year: 2020
  description: On February 5, 2020, the Senate acquitted Trump of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his July 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The vote fell short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction, with only one Republican voting to convict.
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: "\"Humble.\""
  artist: Kendrick Lamar
  year: 2017
  note: Released April 2017, dominated streaming and radio throughout the year
- title: "\"Shape of You\""
  artist: Ed Sheeran
  year: 2017
  note: Released January 2017, became one of the year's defining pop hits
- title: "\"Despacito\""
  artist: Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee
  year: 2017
  note: Released early 2017, became global phenomenon and summer anthem
topFilms:
- title: Wonder Woman
  year: 2017
  note: Directed by Patty Jenkins, major blockbuster and cultural moment for female-led superhero film
- title: Get Out
  year: 2017
  note: Directed by Jordan Peele, horror-thriller that critiqued race relations and became cultural watershed
- title: The Last Jedi
  year: 2017
  note: Star Wars Episode VIII, released December 2017, sparked passionate fan debates about the franchise's direction
topTVShows:
- title: Game of Thrones
  year: 2017
  note: Season 7 aired in summer 2017, continued dominance as HBO's flagship series
- title: The Handmaid's Tale
  year: 2017
  note: Season 1 premiered April 2017 on Hulu; widely interpreted as political allegory in Trump era
- title: Big Little Lies
  year: 2017
  note: Season 1 concluded early 2017, HBO's prestige drama about wealthy women and hidden darkness
zeitgeistNote: "2017 oscillated between pop culture escapism and acute political anxiety. The Women's March and subsequent protests permeated cultural conversation, influencing art and entertainment that grappled with power, identity, and institutional critique. Get Out's success reflected heightened racial consciousness, while The Handmaid's Tale became a cultural touchstone for feminist resistance. Streaming services continued fragmenting traditional media consumption. The year also saw growing conversation about sexual harassment and misconduct, presaging the broader #MeToo reckoning that would intensify in late 2017."
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Donald_Trump_sworn_in_as_45th_President_of_the_United_States.webm/1280px--Donald_Trump_sworn_in_as_45th_President_of_the_United_States.webm.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Donald_Trump_sworn_in_as_45th_President_of_the_United_States.webm/800px--Donald_Trump_sworn_in_as_45th_President_of_the_United_States.webm.jpg"
  caption: Donald Trump sworn in as 45th President of the United States
  credit: U.S. Government
  width: 1920
  height: 1080
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Trump_Takes_Oath_as_45th_President_%28DVIDS%29.webm/1280px--Trump_Takes_Oath_as_45th_President_%28DVIDS%29.webm.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Trump_Takes_Oath_as_45th_President_%28DVIDS%29.webm/800px--Trump_Takes_Oath_as_45th_President_%28DVIDS%29.webm.jpg"
  caption: Trump Takes Oath as 45th President (DVIDS)
  credit: Department of Defense
  width: 1024
  height: 576
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Guardsmen_Support_the_58th_Presidential_Inauguration_2.jpg/1280px-Guardsmen_Support_the_58th_Presidential_Inauguration_2.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Guardsmen_Support_the_58th_Presidential_Inauguration_2.jpg/800px-Guardsmen_Support_the_58th_Presidential_Inauguration_2.jpg"
  caption: Guardsmen Support the 58th Presidential Inauguration 2
  credit: Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Frank Marquez
  width: 2592
  height: 1728
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Donald_J._Trump_is_sworn_in_as_the_45th_President_of_the_United_States.jpg/1280px-Donald_J._Trump_is_sworn_in_as_the_45th_President_of_the_United_States.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Donald_J._Trump_is_sworn_in_as_the_45th_President_of_the_United_States.jpg/800px-Donald_J._Trump_is_sworn_in_as_the_45th_President_of_the_United_States.jpg"
  caption: Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States
  credit: (Official White House Photo by Greg E. Mathieson Sr.)
  width: 1500
  height: 998
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: the-new-york-times
  headline: Trump Takes Oath as 45th President; Promises 'America First' Agenda
  publishedAt: 2017-01-21
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Friday, taking the oath before an estimated crowd of 600,000 to 900,000 people on the National Mall. In his inaugural address, Mr. Trump pledged to prioritize American interests and dismantle what he called a "rigged" system.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: The Guardian
  publisherSlug: the-guardian
  headline: Trump Becomes US President, Vows 'America First' in Dark Inaugural Address
  publishedAt: 2017-01-21
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, delivering an inaugural address that painted a bleak portrait of American decline and promised radical change. Critics noted the speech's unusually dark tone and nationalist rhetoric.
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: Trump Sworn in as 45th US President
  publishedAt: 2017-01-21
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Synthesized from period reporting - Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States in front of hundreds of thousands of supporters gathered on the National Mall in Washington DC.
  significance: 89
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: CNN
  publisherSlug: cnn
  headline: Donald Trump Inaugurated as 45th President of the United States
  publishedAt: 2017-01-21
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Washington. The real estate mogul and reality television star became the oldest president to take office for the first time.
  significance: 90
  type: tv
  region: United States
- publisher: Der Spiegel
  publisherSlug: der-spiegel
  headline: Ein Prasident aus dem Fernsehen
  publishedAt: 2017-01-21
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recballable
  excerpt: "DE: 'Ein Prasident aus dem Fernsehen' / EN: 'A President from Television' - Synthesized from period reporting - Der Spiegel examined Trump's unconventional rise to the presidency and what his inaugural address signaled for global relations and American democracy."
  significance: 85
  type: magazine
  region: Germany
peoplesVoice:
- source: Donald Trump, 45th US President
  voiceType: official
  context: Trump's inaugural address delivered on the steps of the Capitol, setting the tone for his presidency.
  excerpt: We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 92
  attribution: Presidential Inaugural Address, January 20, 2017
  publishedAt: 2017-01-20
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Chuck Schumer, US Senate Minority Leader
  voiceType: official
  context: Schumer's immediate reaction to the inauguration reflected Democratic concerns about Trump's policy direction.
  excerpt: The rhetoric we heard today was divisive and wrong. We will do everything in our power to protect Americans from harmful policies.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 72
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Senate floor remarks and media statements, January 20-21, 2017
  publishedAt: 2017-01-21
  originalLanguage: en
- source: David Ignatius, Washington Post Columnist
  voiceType: media
  context: Major outlets assessed Trump's inaugural message and what it signaled about his governing philosophy.
  excerpt: Trump promised to put America first in what amounted to an economic nationalist manifesto, signaling major shifts in trade and foreign policy.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 68
  attribution: Washington Post analysis, January 20, 2017
  publishedAt: 2017-01-20
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Van Jones, CNN Political Commentator
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Commentators reflected on the historic nature of the event and its implications for race and representation in American politics.
  excerpt: This is a moment that will be studied for generations. The stakes could not be higher.
  sentimentLabel: shocked
  significance: 65
  attribution: CNN coverage, January 20, 2017
  publishedAt: 2017-01-20
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Kellyanne Conway, Trump Campaign Manager and Counselor
  voiceType: official
  context: Trump's inner circle defended the inaugural address and celebrated the peaceful transition of power.
  excerpt: Today, America is being put back in the hands of the American people. This is a triumphant day for those who believe in our Constitution.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 58
  attribution: Synthesized from period media appearances and interviews, January 20-21, 2017
  publishedAt: 2017-01-21
  originalLanguage: en
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20170703094332/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards"
  capturedAt: 2017-07-03
  label: Academy Awards
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards"
