President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony next Monday is expected to feature an invocation delivered by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. Franklin Graham, as well as a performance by country singer Carrie Underwood.
Four years after he departed Washington, D.C., Trump is scheduled to return to the White House at noon on Jan. 20 for his next four years as the nation's 47th president.
Congressional lawmakers certified his victory in the 2024 presidential election on Jan. 6.
The inaugural ceremony usually features interfaith participation. Dolan, a Catholic, will give the invocation to open the ceremony joined by Graham, an evangelical, according to a copy of the program obtained by Newsmax.
Dolan confirmed his participation in the inaugural festivities on Christmas Eve, telling New York's PIX11 Morning News that he would help lead the opening prayer as he did for Trump's first inauguration.
"The president was kind enough to ask me to do the opening prayer," Dolan said.
Axios reported on Monday that Underwood will perform a rendition of "America the Beautiful" at the inauguration, accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club.
The Grammy Award-winning artist is a more high-profile name than the performers featured at Trump's 2017 inauguration, signaling a shift in the entertainment industry's willingness to embrace the president-elect this time around.
The Radio City Rockettes and Jackie Evancho, a former runner-up on "America's Got Talent," performed at Trump's first inauguration.
OSV News reported that the inaugural ceremony will be followed by a luncheon at Statuary Hall in the Capitol. Other inaugural events include a review of the troops, a presidential parade and reception, and inaugural balls, as well as a National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday.
Outgoing President Joe Biden and outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris are both slated to attend the ceremony. Trump did not attend Biden's inauguration in 2021, due to his claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him by the exiting Democrat.
According to OSV, flags will be flown at half-staff during the ceremony, as a result of Biden's order to mark national mourning for late President Jimmy Carter.
Vice President-elect JD Vance will reportedly be just the second Catholic to serve as vice president, after Biden became the first in 2009 during President Barack Obama's administration.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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