Trump Family Arrives in Washington on Air Force Plane

On Saturday evening, January 18th, US President-elect Donald Trump boarded an Air Force plane in Florida and flew to the capital, Washington D.C., arriving at Dulles International Airport in Virginia at 7 pm. Monday is the presidential inauguration ceremony where Trump will once again take office as President of the United States. President Biden has insisted on the traditional transfer of power process.

Trump decided to forego his frequently used navy blue and deep red “Trump Force One” private plane and instead flew on a plane dispatched by Biden to Florida. Biden emphasized the necessity for cooperation with Trump’s transition team.

Just past 4:30 pm on Saturday, Trump, incoming First Lady Melania Trump, and their son Barron Trump boarded an Air Force plane at Palm Beach International Airport. Trump waved from the top of the plane as it took off just past 5 pm.

About half an hour earlier, Trump’s sons Eric and his wife Lara, and daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, along with their children, boarded Trump’s private plane at Palm Beach.

“The President and First Lady are now leaving Mar-a-Lago to head to Washington D.C., embarking on a successful journey for our country!” Trump’s incoming spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on X.

According to Reuters, after arriving in Washington, Trump will immediately head to a golf club in Sterling, Virginia, where about 500 guests will watch fireworks and music performances, including Elvis impersonator Leo Days and tenor Christopher Macchio, whom Trump had invited to perform at political events.

78-year-old Trump will hold a rally on Sunday, the eve of the inauguration, at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., and the arena will also host post-inauguration events on Monday afternoon.

On Monday, Washington D.C. will face severe cold weather, leading Trump to move the inauguration from the iconic West Side of the Capitol Building to the Capitol Building Rotunda and the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capital One Arena.

Trump will be inaugurated at noon on Monday and deliver his inauguration speech in the Capitol Building Rotunda, setting the tone for his future four-year term, as usual.

This will be the first time the inauguration activities have been moved indoors since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in January 1985.

The president-elect will attend the Liberty Ball and the Commander-in-Chief Ball on Monday night.

Of the 220,000 ticket holders who were scheduled to watch the inauguration at the Capitol Building, most will not be able to view the ceremony inside. Only a small group will be allowed entry to the Capital One Arena with its 20,000 seats to witness the inauguration.

On Saturday, Trump supporters who planned to attend the inauguration ceremony have already arrived in downtown Washington.

Retired 78-year-old professor Arthur Caisse and his 64-year-old brother Richard Caisse, small business owners from Connecticut, rushed to witness Trump’s inauguration, their second visit since 2017.

Arthur Caisse expressed disappointment that despite managing to get tickets through the congressional process, they might not be able to enter the Capital One Arena. However, Richard Caisse is excited about the upcoming new government.

Information technology professional Debbie Koch, 60, and her sister traveled from Wisconsin, saying they still plan to attend the Capital One Arena gathering on Sunday evening if they can get in.

“We’re not sure,” she said. “We’re just happy to be here.”

Upon returning to the White House on Monday afternoon, Trump is expected to begin signing dozens of executive orders and directives to address immigration, promote US energy production, and other top priorities.