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What to watch at Trump's inauguration: Big Tech CEOs, Carrie Underwood and foreign leaders

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What to watch at Trump's inauguration: Big Tech CEOs, Carrie Underwood and foreign leaders
News

News

What to watch at Trump's inauguration: Big Tech CEOs, Carrie Underwood and foreign leaders

2025-01-19 20:50 Last Updated At:21:12

Donald Trump's inauguration as the country’s 47th president was expected to be an extravagant break from tradition — before it got moved indoors due to cold weather.

There will still be well-known performers, influential billionaires as guests and foreign heads of state. Unlike his first inauguration eight years ago, Trump will be welcomed back to office by business titans and global leaders, groups that often shunned him in his first term.

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FILE - Parker McCollum performs at the iHeartCountry Music Festival, May 13, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Parker McCollum performs at the iHeartCountry Music Festival, May 13, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Carrie Underwood arrives at the People's Choice Awards, Dec. 6, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Carrie Underwood arrives at the People's Choice Awards, Dec. 6, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Chief Justice John Roberts joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - Chief Justice John Roberts joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - Jason Aldean speaks at a Turning Point Action campaign rally, Oct. 23, 2024, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Jason Aldean speaks at a Turning Point Action campaign rally, Oct. 23, 2024, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Gavin DeGraw performs during halftime of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Dec. 30, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

FILE - Gavin DeGraw performs during halftime of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Dec. 30, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

FILE - Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney, from left, Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox perform at the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett]/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney, from left, Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox perform at the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett]/Invision/AP, File)

Technicians set up the presidential lectern as organizers work to move the Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony into the Capitol Rotunda due to expected frigid weather in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Technicians set up the presidential lectern as organizers work to move the Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony into the Capitol Rotunda due to expected frigid weather in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Here are some things to look out for during Trump’s inauguration.

Expect to see Melania Trump, the president-elect’s five children and grandkids. Don Jr., his eldest son, and Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, have gained more influence over the past year. The fathers of Trump's two sons-in-law were given key adviser posts as well. While Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have taken a step back, they are expected to attend just like they did for election night.

But the Capitol Rotunda can only hold around 600 people, according to organizers. There will be precious few spots for Supreme Court justices, military leaders, former presidents and their spouses, Cabinet nominees and visiting dignitaries — along with the 535 members of Congress who traditionally get prime spots, though some Democratic lawmakers are skipping the ceremony.

Tesla and X owner Elon Musk was invited to the dais along with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Who will make it into the Rotunda?

Country music star Carrie Underwood, who has won eight Grammy Awards, will sing “America the Beautiful” before Trump is sworn in around noon EST by Chief Justice John Roberts. Underwood, who went from 2005 “American Idol” contestant to the most decorated artist in CMT Music Awards history, was a surprise get for the president-elect’s inauguration program.

Another unexpected announcement came from the Village People, the late-70s American disco group behind the hit “Y.M.C.A.” The group was booked for a Trump rally in Washington on Sunday and at one of the inaugural balls. The hit song was played at the end of Trump rallies and became a viral trend on social media after the election with people mimicking the president-elect’s signature dance moves.

Other performers will include two of Trump’s musical favorites: opera singer Christopher Macchio, who will sing the “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and country singer Lee Greenwood, known for his patriotic anthem, “God Bless the USA,” also played at Trump rallies.

Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, best known for his hit song “I Don’t Want To Be,” will perform at one of the three balls Trump is attending. Country singers Jason Aldean, Parker McCollum and country music band Rascal Flatts will be performing at the other two balls.

Trump is known for delivering hour-plus speeches where he makes grand promises, attacks political opponents and mocks some foreign leaders.

During his 16-minute inaugural address in 2017, Trump stuck to his campaign script and painted a bleak picture of the country blaming other countries for shuttering factories and shrinking the middle class. He said he would end “American carnage” and would govern with an “America First” approach.

This time around, his main campaign promise has been to launch the largest deportation operation in history and seal off the U.S.-Mexico border. He has spoken about ushering in a “golden age” and pledged to impose tariffs on imports, rolling out more details in recent days on how he plans to pursue those goals.

He told NBC News on Saturday that the theme of his inaugural address will be “unity and strength, and also the word ‘fairness.’”

“Because you have to be treating people fairly,” Trump said. “You can’t just say, ‘Oh, everything’s going to be wonderful.’ You know, we went through hell for four years with these people. And so, you know, something has to be done about it. ... You can’t have that happen, and we shouldn’t have that happen.”

Trump may be breaking a tradition on Inauguration Day after extending invitations to world leaders. No heads of state have previously made an official visit to the U.S. for the inauguration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was the first foreign leader whose invitation to the inauguration became public last December. Xi will not attend but is sending Vice President Han Zheng as his special representative.

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, and Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni, accepted Trump's offer. The offices of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña have also said they were invited and were planning to attend.

FILE - Parker McCollum performs at the iHeartCountry Music Festival, May 13, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Parker McCollum performs at the iHeartCountry Music Festival, May 13, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Carrie Underwood arrives at the People's Choice Awards, Dec. 6, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Carrie Underwood arrives at the People's Choice Awards, Dec. 6, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Chief Justice John Roberts joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - Chief Justice John Roberts joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - Jason Aldean speaks at a Turning Point Action campaign rally, Oct. 23, 2024, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Jason Aldean speaks at a Turning Point Action campaign rally, Oct. 23, 2024, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Gavin DeGraw performs during halftime of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Dec. 30, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

FILE - Gavin DeGraw performs during halftime of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Dec. 30, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

FILE - Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney, from left, Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox perform at the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett]/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney, from left, Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox perform at the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett]/Invision/AP, File)

Technicians set up the presidential lectern as organizers work to move the Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony into the Capitol Rotunda due to expected frigid weather in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Technicians set up the presidential lectern as organizers work to move the Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony into the Capitol Rotunda due to expected frigid weather in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Trump’s remarks on Canada becoming the 51st state raise a lot of questions

2025-02-14 03:56 Last Updated At:04:01

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st U.S. state as he proposes to erase the 5,525-mile-long border that separates the two countries. The very notion is ludicrous to Canadians and the hurdles to transforming it into a state are sky high.

But in Trump's thinking, the traditional Lower 48 states would become the contiguous 50 as the Canadian territory between the U.S. mainland and Alaska disappears, leaving Hawaii as the only non-continental state.

“If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100% certain that they’d become a state,” Trump said recently.

Canada at first reacted as though Trump must be joking, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said flatly his country would never be the 51st state. Trudeau more recently suggested behind closed doors that Trump's sustained annexation calls may not be just light talk and appear to be "a real thing.”

Here's what it would take to transform Canada from a nation to a state:

Congress has to approve accepting a new state.

It takes only a House majority, but Senate filibuster rules require a minimum of 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to bring a bill to the floor — an insurmountable threshold for all kinds of key legislation.

The Constitution’s Admissions Clause, Article IV, Section 3, states: “New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.”

Any measure approving a new state that clears Congress would also have to be signed into law by the president. In the case of Canada, Trump has made it clear he would be eager to do so.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally, joked on X when all 50 states certified Trump's Electoral College victory last month, “They skipped Canada. We’ll fix that next time!”

No major legislation is advancing that would extend an invitation to statehood to America's northern neighbor.

To say that most Canadian leaders aren't interested in becoming a state would be an understatement. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, head of Canada’s most populous province, has spun out a counteroffer for Trump.

“How about, if we buy Alaska, and we’ll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time,” he said, adding of Trump’s suggestion: “It’s not realistic.”

There have been multiple past pathways to statehood — from the absorption of the 13 colonies under the Articles of Confederation, to Congress formally agreeing to Texas' request to be annexed as the 28th state.

Most states were added after Congress accepted a petition from some territorial legislative body, which could include legislatures that Congress itself suggested forming as part of the process.

Canada would probably have to have a referendum to gauge voters' interests in joining the U.S. before more detailed aspects of the process could begin — and that's almost certainly a non-starter.

While not addressing Canada as the 51st state directly, polling last year from Gallup and the Pew Research Center shows that Americans overwhelmingly have a positive view of Canada — and that while Canadians view the U.S. more positively than negatively, their view may be a little more muted.

Trump's threats of tariffs have left Canadians feeling betrayed, and sports fans in Canada have begun voicing their displeasure by booing the U.S. national anthem at NBA and NHL games.

Profoundly — and that's without speculating about whether a majority of Canadians might back Democrats or Republicans for president and in Congress.

If Canada were to join the U.S. — again, a highly unlikely prospect — its population of 41.6 million would make it the largest state, outpacing California’s 39.4 million residents. Canada would get two senators but also 55 House seats based on the average congressional district population following the 2020 U.S. census, which was 761,169 individuals.

That would make Canada the presidential race’s richest prize, with 57 Electoral College delegates — exceeding California’s 54.

The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, meanwhile, caps the number of House seats at 435, meaning that other state delegations would have to shrink to make room for the new Canadian members of the House — and, by extension, its delegates to the Electoral College.

Suddenly, make-or-break swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin would not look so important if there were tens of millions of Canadians waiting to be wooed with a presidential election on the line.

Before Trump took office for his second term, debate around adding State No. 51 traditionally centered around Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth, and its voters have approved statehood in nonbinding referendums. Proposals to allow it become a state have repeatedly been introduced in Congress but not approved.

Washington, D.C., residents have voted in support of statehood and approved a state constitution and proposed boundaries. A bill admitting into the union the city as Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, passed the Democratic-controlled House as recently as 2021 but not the Senate.

Republicans now control both chambers, meaning they'll likely oppose adding states that could be majority Democratic like Puerto Rico or D.C.

The nation's capital gets three Electoral College votes for president under the Constitution's 23rd Amendment, though it lacks voting representation in Congress. That's why the Electoral College has 538 total delegates: 435 House members, 100 senators and three for D.C.

Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, nearly 18 years after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

The island chain about 2,400 miles (3,900 kilometers) from the mainland United States was annexed as a U.S. territory by Congress in 1898. Many bills offering Hawaii statehood were subsequently introduced, but they stalled for decades amid racial discrimination and partisan disagreement.

By the early 1950s, Hawaii leaned Republican, and Democrats opposed its admission to the union without including Alaska, which was seen as more favorable to their party.

Alaska, separated from the mainland U.S. by about 500 miles (800 kilometers) of Canadian territory, was eventually admitted as State No. 49 in January 1959. That opened the door for Congress to approve Hawaii’s statehood that March, and island voters chose to join the union on Aug. 21, 1959.

It turned out that Alaska has backed Republicans in every presidential election except 1964, while Hawaii has voted Democratic every presidential cycle but 1972 and 1984.

The flags of Canada and the United States fly outside a hotel in downtown Ottawa, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

The flags of Canada and the United States fly outside a hotel in downtown Ottawa, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Shipping containers are seen at the PSA Halifax Fairview Cove container terminal in Halifax on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, one day ahead of imposed tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump against Canada. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP)

Shipping containers are seen at the PSA Halifax Fairview Cove container terminal in Halifax on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, one day ahead of imposed tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump against Canada. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP)

FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talk prior to a NATO round table meeting at The Grove hotel and resort in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, Dec. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talk prior to a NATO round table meeting at The Grove hotel and resort in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, Dec. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

The flags of Canada and the United States fly outside a hotel in downtown Ottawa, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

The flags of Canada and the United States fly outside a hotel in downtown Ottawa, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

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