The White House staff wastes no time.
The Jan. 20 Presidential Inauguration ushers in an organized chaos like no other—when the residence staff of the White House must move Joe Biden out and Donald Trump in within a matter of hours. And the perfectly planned transition will happen behind closed doors while Trump is sworn into presidency alongside his vice president JD Vance at the United States Capitol Rotunda, where former president Ronald Reagan held his 1985 inauguration due to inclement weather.
"We have approximately five, five-and-a-half hours from the time they leave the North Portico until after the parade," former White House chief usher Gary Walters told ABC News. “It's somewhere in the vicinity of 110 people and they all have very specific jobs. We also not only have the House, we have the West Wing and, specifically, the president's Oval Office that gets transformed.”
The transition has been meticulously planned to go without a hitch. This is intended so that the 47th president and first lady Melania Trump can get right to work.
"The aim of the residence staff is to have the president and the first lady move into their home when they come in from the Pennsylvania Avenue reviewing stand that their snacks are in the kitchen," Walters continued. "Their favorite items are where they expect them to be. There are no boxes unopened. They're all open. It's all set up beforehand. And when they walk in, they don't see any unpacked boxes or extra storage items sitting around."
After all, the Trumps are no strangers to life in the White House, having lived there during his first term from 2017 to 2021. Even Melania predicted a smooth transition into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. this time around.
"The first time was challenging," the 54-year-old told Fox & Friends in a recent interview. "But this time, I have everything. I have the plans. I could move in. I already packed."
And while the First Lady will be living in the White House, Melania shared that she also has plans to make trips back to NYC to be with their son Barron Trump as he continues his studies at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
"When I need to be in New York, I will be in New York," she explained. "When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach."
After all, Melania made it clear that her "first priority is to be a mom, to be a First Lady, to be a wife," but "once you're in on January 20, you serve the country."
To see more of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance’s 2025 Inauguration in photos, keep reading…
Barron Trump, Melania Trump & Donald Trump
Take them to church: Barron Trump joined mom Melania Trump (in a coat by American designer Adam Lippes) and his father, president Donald Trump for services at Washington, D.C.'s St. John's Church as part of the 2025 Inauguration Day festivities Jan. 20.
Ivanka Trump
Incoming first daughter Ivanka Trump also put on her Monday best for the church services.
Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump & Melania Trump
"Welcome home," President Joe Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the White House.
Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris & JD Vance
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff were also on hand to welcome VP JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance at the White House.
Michael Boulous & Tiffany Trump
Pregnant Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos joined her father at the St. John's Church services.
Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner
Former advisor Ivanka was joined at the services by husband Jared Kushner and their kids Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.
Elon Musk
Trump pal Elon Musk took in the view as he arrived inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar & Donald Trump
Before delivering her speech, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar led Biden and Trump out of the White House. "While we have major differences of opinions on policy and the like," she said of chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, "I want to make sure this works,” Klobuchar said of the ceremony."
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush & Laura Bush
Among the former presidents and first ladies on hand: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush and Laura Bush.
George W. Bush, Laura Bush & Barack Obama
With wife Michelle Obama not attending, former president Barack Obama hung with the Bushes.
Mike Pence
Trump's former vice president Mike Pence turned up solo for the ceremony.
Eric Adams
New York City mayor Eric Adams worked the room at the Capitol.
Janet Jones & Wayne Gretzky
Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones were among those who decided to take a shot at watching the inauguration.
Rupert Murdoch & Elena Zhukova
Former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch (joined by wife Elena Zhukova) was among the billionaire businesspeople in attendance.
Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Tech talk: Tesla CEO Musk socialized with Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Robert F. Kennedy
Trump's pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy came to watch him get sworn in.
Mitch McConnell & Elaine Chao
Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell held tight to wife Elaine Chao.
Jake Paul & Logan Paul
Influencer turned boxer Jake Paul was on hand with his brother, wrestler Logan Paul.
Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined Amazon exec Jeff Bezos, his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, Pichai and Musk on the dias at the Capitol.
Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr.
Trump's kids with first wife Ivana Trump—Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump—gathered with Ivanka's husband Kushner.
Barron Trump
Trump's youngest child—New York University student Barron—traveled to Washington, D.C. to watch him take the oath of office for the second time.
Christopher Macchio
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio was tapped to sing the National Anthem. "I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread across the National Mall," he acknowledged to the Associated Press ahead of the events. "Unfortunately I won’t be getting that visual while I perform, but it’s still going to be such a tremendous honor."
Shou Zi Chew
Hours after TikTok went dark (and then restored service) in the United States, CEO Shou Zi Chew turned up at the inauguration.
Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy & Kristi Noem
Apple CEO Tim Cook posed alongside onetime presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.
Melania Trump & Donald Trump
JD Vance, Usha Vance & Donald Trump
Just before noon, Vance took the oath of office to become vice president while wife Usha and daughter Mirabel looked on.
Rudy Giuliani
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani captured the festivities.
Donald Trump
Minutes after Vance was sworn in, Trump took his oath of office for the second time.
Bernie Sanders
What, no mittens? Vermont senator Bernie Sanders ditched the outerwear for the festitivites inside the Capitol.
Carrie Underwood
After technical difficulties forced her to perform a capella, American Idol's season four winner Carrie Underwood blew the crowd away with her rendition of "America the Beautiful".