The Kennedy Center served as a inauguration day In the waiting room, Trump's staff waited to get access to their new office in the White House.
The visiting staff began gathering early Monday at the iconic Washington venue, which is famous for its symphonies and ballets. Joe Biden Was still the President.
They arrived in ride-share vehicles.
Three hours before the afternoon swearing-in, an aide assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was there first.
US Secret Service personnel checked their IDs and distributed temporary passes. Some aides had presidential strings attached to their credentials; One proudly wore his high school lanyard.
Employees welcomed familiar faces from President Trump's first term and introduced themselves to new colleagues who had never visited 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
They mingled on the red carpet in the Hall of States, beneath larger-than-life portraits of John F. Kennedy and the astronauts.
These photographs depict moments from Kennedy's career, including a speech he gave in Ireland. One staffer pointed this out and talked about visiting the country with Trump during his first term.
A National Security Council employee sips a 20-ounce Starbucks coffee. A communications associate ate a sandwich for breakfast. There were a joke or two about first-day-of-school attire, which included business suits and, for some men, stretchy Lululemon trousers.
They kept checking their watches and phones from time to time.
At 11:30 a.m., wait staff pulled out livestream footage of opening ceremony On laptops and cellphones.
During an introductory speaker's remarks at 11:53 a.m., a colleague said: “They have to end this – according to the Constitution, they have seven minutes.”
At noon, someone asked, “Are we going to go?”
“As soon as he puts his lay hands on the BibleAnother colleague replied.
At 12:01 pm, Trump took the oath without touching the Bible. His new staff picked up their coats and bags, boarded minibuses and headed to the White House.