President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration is expected to take on a lighter tone than it did in 2017 when he promised to stop the "American carnage" of poverty, crime, and drug abuse that he said was the "different reality" of the United States.
For Monday's inauguration, Trump's team will emphasize "unity" and "light," and while it's not clear what he'll say to the American people, the festivities that are planned suggest a warmer tone for this year's events, Axios reported Friday.
Donors are being invited to "One America, One Light" prayer service for Trump donors and a "Candlelight Dinner, and one of the three main inaugural balls has been called the "Starlight Ball."
"Light signifies hope, it signifies a new beginning, it signifies a pathway forward. It's really something that has been a theme for the inaugural, yes, but also a guiding principle for our team over the past couple of months," a person familiar with the plans said.
In December, Trump also told NBC News that "unity" will be the major message of his inaugural address.
"I think success brings unity, and I've experienced that," he said. "Basically it's going to be about bringing our country together."
Trump also plans to "make sure people know he is a president for all Americans," a source familiar with his planning said.
Singer Carrie Underwood, who has faced backlash after she agreed to perform "America the Beautiful" at Trump's swearing-in ceremony, said she will sing "in the spirit of unity."
"I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event," Underwood said in a statement. "I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future."
Trump also delivered a call for national unity last summer, when he spoke at the Republican National Convention days after he was injured in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.