Trump pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters, abandons Biden-era policies

Trump said he is signing pardons for approximately 1,500 people charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot by his supporters, and also commuted the sentences of about a dozen defendants in such cases. 

"These are the hostages," Trump said in the Oval Office.

More than 140 police officers were injured in the attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, who followed his call to march on the complex that day to protest the certification of Biden's Electoral College victory.

"This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation," Trump's order on the pardons and commutations says.

"Acting pursuant to the grant of authority in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution of the United States, I do hereby:

(a)  commute the sentences of the following individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, to time served as of January 20, 2025:

•    Stewart Rhodes

•    Kelly Meggs

•    Kenneth Harrelson

•    Thomas Caldwell

•    Jessica Watkins

•    Roberto Minuta

•    Edward Vallejo

•    David Moerschel

•    Joseph Hackett

•    Ethan Nordean

•    Joseph Biggs

•    Zachary Rehl

•    Dominic Pezzola

•    Jeremy Bertino"

- Dan Mangan

Vice President JD Vance last week said that U.S. Capitol riot defendants who committed violence "obviously" should not be pardoned by Trump.

Vance's comments on Fox News came eight days before Trump issued a mass of pardons to defendants in Jan. 6, 2021, riot cases, many of whom violently attacked Capitol police.

Vance had said people who "protest peacefully" on Jan. 6 should receive pardons.

But "if you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned," he said.

More than 600 defendants were charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder. Those include nearly 175 people charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer;

— Dan Mangan

House speaker emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi blasted Trump for pardoning about 1,500 defendants in cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.

"The President's actions are an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution," Pelosi, D-California, said in a statement.

"It is shameful that the President has decided to make one of his top priorities the abandonment and betrayal of police officers who put their lives on the line to stop an attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power," Pelosi said.

"Despite the President's decision, we must always remember the extraordinary courage and valor of the law enforcement heroes who stood in the breach and ensured that democracy survived on that dark day."

— Dan Mangan

Trump could be unlocking a payday for private prisons by revoking an executive order signed by Biden exactly four years ago.

From the Capital One Arena, the president revoked Executive Order 14006, which had barred the Department of Justice from renewing contracts with privately-operated detention facilities.

Trump's actions could reopen the door for private prisons to secure lucrative contracts with the Justice Department. It also marks a significant departure from the previous administration's policies on incarceration.

Private prisons have long faced criticism for putting profits ahead of inmate welfare, with concerns centering around poor living conditions, inadequate rehabilitation efforts, and cost-cutting measures that compromise safety. Critics also argue that the profit-driven model incentivizes higher incarceration rates rather than meaningful reform.

— MacKenzie Sigalos

Trump signed an executive order creating the Department of Government Efficiency, the Elon Musk-led advisory group tasked with slashing government waste.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who was tapped to co-lead DOGE with Musk, confirmed earlier Monday that he would be leaving the group.

— Kevin Breuninger

Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader whom a jury convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Jan. Capitol riot, is being processed for release from federal prison, his attorney told NBC News.

Tarrio, who is serving a 22-year prison sentence in Louisiana — the longest term of anyone convicted in relation to the riot — is expecting to soon get a grant of clemency from Trump, attorney Nayib Hassan told NBC.

"He is being processed out," Hassan said. "We do not know what type of clemency he is receiving."

Tarrio's mother, Zuny Tarrio, earlier wrote on X, "My son has is being released!!!! Omg! Lord thank you!!! TARRIO IS FREE!!!"

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump loosened what had been enhanced ethics rules for executive branch appointees by revoking an executive order signed by Biden exactly four years ago.

Executive Order 13989, as it was known, had required appointees to sign and agree to an additional ethics promise to "decision-making on the merits and exclusively in the public interest, without regard to private gain or personal benefit."

The order required appointees to commit to conduct that upheld" the independence of law enforcement and precludes improper interference with investigative or prosecutorial decisions of the Department of Justice."

It also required them to "commit to ethical choices of post-Government employment that do not raise the appearance that I have used my Government service for private gain, including by using confidential information acquired and relationships established for the benefit of future clients."

- Dan Mangan

The Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of State, making him the first member of Trump's Cabinet to be appointed.

Rubio, who resigned as a U.S. senator from Florida to seek the post, breezed through on a 99-0 vote.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump signed an executive order to begin withdrawing the United States from the landmark Paris climate agreement, as he moves to implement a sweeping energy agenda focus on increasing fossil fuel production.

The Paris agreement is an international voluntary accord that seeks to limit rising global temperatures.

— Spencer Kimball

Trump's first executive order revoked 78 orders signed by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

It was not immediately clear which of Biden's orders were being revoked.

Trump then signed orders intended to enact a "regulatory freeze" and a pause on federal hiring.

The announcements, from Trump's aide shortly before the orders were signed, drew loud cheers from the Capital One Arena.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump said he will be signing "a lot" of pardons for his supporters who have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

"I'm gonna be signing, on the J6 hostages, pardons, to get them out," Trump said at the Capital One Arena.

"And as soon as I leave I'm going to be going to the Oval Office and we'll be signing pardons for a lot of people, a lot of people," he said.

— Kevin Breuninger

The head of the Transportation Security Administration, David Pekoske, said he was ousted from office by Trump's transition team before the new president's inauguration.

Pekoske said in a note to employees that Trump's transition team informed him this morning that "my time as your administrator will end at noon ET today." CNBC reviewed a copy of the memo, which was reported earlier by CNN.

A spokesman for the administration didn't immediately comment on Pekoske's departure or potential replacement.

Trump named Pekoske, a former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, to the lead the TSA in 2017 during his first term as president. Pekoske was reconfirmed for a second five-year term in 2022, under former President Joe Biden. The agency has about 60,000 employees and screens passengers at more than 400 U.S. airports.

In December, Mike Whitaker, Federal Aviation Administration administrator, announced he would step down on Jan. 20 before Trump took office.

--Leslie Josephs

While Trump's inauguration pageantry was in full swing downtown, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted along party lines to advance Pete Hegseth's nomination for secretary of defense.

All 14 of the panel's Republicans voted in Hegseth's favor, and all 13 of its Democrats voted against him, NBC News reported. The nomination now heads to the full Senate for a final vote.

Hegseth's nomination was initially bogged down by allegations of sexual assault, drunkenness and mismanagement of veterans' nonprofits — all of which he has denied.

But after a contentious confirmation hearing last week, Hegseth's chances seemed to improve, with at least one Republican holdout coming out in favor of putting the combat veteran and former Fox News host in charge of the Pentagon.

— Kevin Breuninger

Lorenzo Sewell, the pastor who delivered a blessing at Trump's swearing in ceremony, announced a new meme coin named for him just hours after he prayed in the Capitol Rotunda.

With the move, Sewell joined Trump and his wife, Melania, in promoting digital currency coins in recent days, as the nation's eyes have been focused on the festivities in Washington.

So-called meme coins are a form of cryptocurrency that centers around public figures and online communities.

"The crypto community was kind enough to send me $Lorenzo, so I have permanently locked my tokens into a Liquidity Pool, so that I will never sell on the community but rather just earn fees as our token continues to flourish," Sewell wrote in an X post.

He added: "Amazing day, all the Glory to God!"

Sewell is senior pastor at 180 Church in Detroit. He did not respond immediately to CNBC's request for comment.

— Alex Harring

Trump has arrived at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington to rally with supporters, many of whom have been here since very early in the day.

Trump is expected to sign several executive orders in front of the audience.

— Christina Wilkie

Mark Uyeda has been named acting chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Trump.

Uyeda is a Republican and a current commissioner of the SEC. The commission is expected to see a pullback in its work on regulation under Trump.

Trump has picked former commissioner Paul Atkins to lead the SEC full-time. But the position requires Senate confirmation, which will take some time. Atkins is known, in part, for his crypto-friendly positions.

— Alex Harring

Biden and Jill Biden have departed from Joint Base Andrews en route to Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Ynez, California, for what appears to be a post-presidency vacation.

"We're leaving office. We're not leaving the fight," Biden told a group of his former administration officials and staff who came to see him off at Andrews.

The last time the Bidens landed at the Santa Ynez airport was in August, when they spent a week on vacation at the ranch of friend and political donor Joe Kiani.

At the time, Joe Biden was president, and the couple traveled in a massive 30-vehicle motorcade that included a Secret Service counter assault team, an ambulance, a communications team and a bomb squad. Nearly everywhere Biden went, he was accompanied by a "protective pool" of reporters who chronicled his every move.

This time, however, the Bidens' plans after they land in California have not been provided to the White House press corps. And there won't be any reporters pre-positioned at the airport to accompany them on the next leg of their trip.

Instead, for the first time in four years, the Bidens will be something akin to private citizens. And their airport arrival will be closed to the press.

- Dan Mangan

Trump has signed several proclamations and designations for dozens of executive appointees, including 22 Cabinet-level positions and 93 other roles.

Trump also signed a proclamation ordering flags to fly at full staff for all future inauguration days, including this one. Flags had been flying at half staff in honor of President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29.

The new president is expected to start signing his promised executive orders during an indoor rally event at D.C.'s Capital One Arena later Monday.

Those executive actions could include declaring a national emergency at the U.S. southern border and other measures aimed to crack down on illegal immigration. He is also poised to declare a "national energy emergency" and take other steps aimed at boosting U.S. energy production.

— Kevin Breuninger

Robert Salesses, deputy director of the Washington Headquarters Service at the Pentagon, will be acting secretary of defense while Trump's pick for the role awaits Senate confirmation, two officials told the Associated Press.

Salesses, a retired Marine, served in the Gulf War and has a Bronze Star, according to the AP. CNBC has not independently confirmed the appointment.

Trump needed to tap a senior executive at the Pentagon who had already received Senate approval. Salesses will lead the Defense Department until a secretary is confirmed. Trump has nominated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for the post.

— Alex Harring, with AP reporting by Tara Copp and Lolita Baldor

The CBP One app is no longer allowing undocumented immigrants to submit information and schedule appointments at U.S. ports of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

"Existing appointments have been cancelled," the agency said.

Trump is poised to sign a slew of executive orders aiming to quash illegal immigration. One of them will invoke the Alien Enemies Act — which then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt used to enact a policy of Japanese internment during World War II — to try to clamp down on and remove criminal gang members from the country.

The crackdown comes as illegal entries have declined sharply during Biden's final year in office. Weeks earlier, the CBP said that encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border in November were down 76% from a year earlier.

— Kevin Breuninger

Former President Biden and Jill Biden departed the U.S. Capitol in a helicopter after Trump's inaugural speech.

- Dan Mangan

Trump pledged to make America an independent and prosperous country in his unprecedented political comeback.

"America will be respected again and admired again, including by people of religion, faith and good will. We will be prosperous," Trump said.

He laid the groundwork for changes he vowed to make to overhaul immigration, trade, tax and energy policies in the U.S.

"We will be proud. We will be strong and we will win like never before. We will not be conquered. We will not be intimidated. We will not be broken. And we will not fail. From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign and independent nation," he said.

— Yun Li

U.S. stock futures were higher as Trump was sworn in as the 47th president.

Regular trading is closed for the Martin Luther King holiday, but we are getting a glimpse at equities trading through the futures market.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures have been higher all session and were last up about 189 points in the hour after Trump officially became president. S&P 500 futures were up 0.4%.

Markets were likely encouraged that Trump did not install tariffs right away on countries like China and Mexico.

Bitcoin touched a record earlier Monday, but has since turned lower.

—John Melloy

"The golden age of America begins right now," President Trump said in his inaugural address on Monday.

"From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first," he added.

— Brian Evans

Trump did not place his hand on a Bible as he took the oath of office.

It is traditional for presidents to have their left palm resting on a Bible when they are sworn in.

Trump, instead, had his left hand at his side, with his right hand raised, as he took the oath, with Melania Trump standing at his side holding two Bibles.

- Dan Mangan

Trump vowed to take back control over the Panama Canal during his inauguration speech.

"We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made, and Panama's promise to us has been broken," Trump said.

Chinese and companies from other countries operate ports nearby the canal, but the Panama Canal Authority, an agency of Panama, governs the canal. Trump previously said the Panama Canal is charging "exorbitant prices and rates of passage" on U.S. naval and merchant ships.

"The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy, and above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back," he said.

— Yun Li

Trump reiterated his idea to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America during his speech.

"A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," Trump said.

Trump also said he plans to restore former President William McKinley's name to a mountain now referred to as Denali in Alaska. He noted that McKinley made the country "very rich" through tariffs and talent.

— Alex Harring

Trump said that the U.S. will "pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars."

SpaceX CEO and Trump megadonor Elon Musk, in attendance, raised his arms into the air and then gave Trump a double thumbs up, beaming in response.

— Kevin Breuninger and Lora Kolodny

"I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families," said Trump. "Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens."

"For this purpose, we are establishing the external revenue service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our treasury coming from foreign sources, the American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before to restore competence and effectiveness to our federal government," he continued.

— Brian Evans

Trump vowed in his inaugural address to end the 'Green New Deal,' the way he has described the landmark Inflation Reduction. The president also said he would "revoke the electric vehicle mandate."

"Today, we will end the Green New Deal, and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American auto workers," Trump said.

Tax credits under the IRA have supported the expansion of solar and wind energy and reduced the cost electric vehicles for consumers.

— Spencer Kimball

Trump highlighted a series of actions he said he would take on his first day in office.

"Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders," Trump said. "With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It's all about common sense."

"I will declare a national emergency at our southern border," he said.  "All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came."

"We will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations," Trump said.

The president also said he would declare a national energy emergency.

An, Trump said, he would "immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens."

-Dan Mangan

Trump said he will "end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life."

"We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit based," Trump said.

"As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female," he said.

Debates over transgender rights and diversity efforts at all levels of society were a major component of the 2024 election cycle. After Trump won, many companies have rolled back their diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump delivered a scathing review of the direction of the country under former President Joe Biden, who was sitting just a few feet to Trump's left.

"We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad," Trump said at the start of his address.

"My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal," Trump said.

"From this moment on, America's decline is over," he said.

— Kevin Breuninger

The Trump transition team has not informed the Department of Defense who its acting secretary will be, an official told NBC News.

While the defense official said someone may have been selected for the position, it has not been told to Pentagon officials or shared publicly.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is not staying in the role, this official said. At least one Biden administration political appointee declined when asked to take the role as acting secretary, they added.

— Courtney Kube, NBC News

Opera singer Christopher Macchio, one of Trump's favorite performers, sang "O, America!" with the Armed Forces Chorus at the inauguration. Macchio will also sing the National Anthem.

Carrie Underwood will sing "America the Beautiful" at the swearing-in event, and Lee Greenwood will perform "God Bless the U.S.A."

Greenwood's song is beloved by many Republicans, and was a popular choice at Trump's campaign rallies, with its lyrics of, "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free."

— Annie Nova

No one has been asked to serve as designated survivor for Trump's inauguration, NBC News reported from the White House.

At gatherings involving the president and other top Cabinet members, an official in the presidential line of succession is usually picked to stay away in case of a mass-casualty event.

It was not immediately clear why no one has been picked to serve that function for the inauguration.

— Kevin Breuninger

As Biden and Trump attend the swearing in at the Capitol, NBC News' Peter Alexander reports that back at the White House, the Oval Office is being refurbished back to Trump's preferences.

Alexander reports that Biden's circular rug has been removed to make room for the rug Trump used in the Oval Office during his first term.

The navy and ivory ensemble worn by Melania Trump was designed for her by Adam Lippes.

The outfit includes a tailored navy silk wool coat, a navy silk wool pencil skirt, and an ivory silk crepe blouse.

"The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump," Lippes said in a statement. "Mrs. Trump's outfit was created by some of America's finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world."

- Dan Mangan

Vivek Ramaswamy is out as Elon Musk's co-leader on the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, sources familiar with the matter told CNBC's Eamon Javers and NBC News' Henry Gomez.

Ramaswamy is preparing to launch a run for governor of Ohio and "it was impossible to do both at once," one of the sources said.

The group known as DOGE was commissioned by Trump as an outside advisory group tasked with shrinking a bloated government bureaucracy and slashing purported waste.

— Kevin Breuninger

U.S. stock market futures rose on Monday as investors bet a series of immediate actions by the incoming president would boost the economy, especially in areas like the banking and energy sectors.

Dow Jones Industrial average futures gained 162 points, or 0.4%. S&P 500 futures added 0.4%. Nasdaq-100 futures rose 0.4%.

Traders were also likely encouraged by a report that Trump wouldn't immediately install new tariffs on day one.

Regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq was closed for the Martin Luther King Day holiday, but there was limited futures trading.

—John Melloy

Trump's inauguration guests have started filing in to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Trump will have his oath-of-office ceremony indoors because of the brutal cold. As a result, the swearing--in event will have a much smaller crowd than a typical inauguration.

The last time the ceremony was held indoors was in 1985 for former President Ronald Reagan.

— Annie Nova

Trump will sign a Day One executive action to rename the Gulf of Mexico, ordering that it be called the "Gulf of America" on official maps and federal communications, his incoming press secretary confirmed.

Trump will also sign an order reverting the name of Alaska's Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley, according to a New York Post article shared on X by incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The highest peak in North America, Denali was called Mount McKinley until 2015, when it was changed by then-President Barack Obama.

"President Trump is bringing common sense to government and renewing the pillars of American Civilization," the orders will reportedly say.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump will declare a national energy emergency today, incoming White House official told reporters.

The national energy emergency "will unlock a variety of different authorities" to produce more natural resources, the official said, without providing specifics on which authorities Trump will use. The president-elect has promised to slash energy costs in half within the first year of his administration.

Trump is also set to sign an executive order specifically to increase energy production in Alaska, the official said, without providing specifics.

"Alaska is so key for our national security, given its geostrategic location, and it's a crucial place from which we could export LNG not only to other parts of the United States, but to our friends and allies in the Asia Pacific region," the official said.

— Spencer Kimball

— NBC News' Peter Alexander

Trump won't impose tariffs on U.S. trading partners as soon as he's sworn in, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Trump is set to issue a broad trade memorandum tpday that directs federal agencies to study and assess unfair trade practices and currency policies with other nations, especially China, Canada and Mexico.

However, the memo stops short of slapping any new duties on the countries, according to the Journal, which reviewed a summary of the memo and spoke to Trump's advisers.

— Yun Li

Trump lashed out at Biden for issuing a final spate of preemptive pardons for various figures who have become political targets of Trump and his supporters.

"It is disgraceful. Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES! DJT," Trump told NBC News' Kristen Welker in a text message.

Biden issued pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley, as well as members of Congress and staffers who investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He is also pardoning the police officers who worked with the House Jan. 6 committee.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump's attendance at St. John's Episcopal Church drew some of the biggest names in tech and media, including some who appear to be actively courting his favor.

The list includes Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook and former News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch.

Influential podcaster Joe Rogan was also spotted in the pews.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump will order the end to diversity, equity and inclusion measures in the federal government, an administration official told reporters on a Monday morning call.

President Biden had made expanding diversity among government workers a priority.

The Trump official also said that the private industry should stay tuned for more actions that could impact their diversity efforts, as well.

— Annie Nova

Biden and first lady Jill Biden shared a parting photo fit for the social media age: a selfie outside the White House.

"One more selfie for the road," Biden wrote in the X post with the photo.

"We love you, America."

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump is gearing up to crack down on immigration through a suite of Day One executive orders that aim to end birthright citizenship, designate drug cartels as terrorists and send troops to the border, incoming White House officials said.

Trump will declare a national emergency at the border, a move that will deploy armed forces and spur more border-wall construction, the officials said.

Trump will also sign orders declaring an end to so-called catch-and-release practices and reinstating the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico pending their immigration court dates.

The order on birthright citizenship will interpret the Constitution's 14th Amendment to "clarify that on a prospective basis, the federal government will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States," an official said.

Another order will direct the U.S. attorney general and encourage state AGs to seek the death penalty for "capital crimes committed by illegal aliens," the official said.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump arrived at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square for a church service.

Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife Usha are also attending.

After the service, Trump and Melania are scheduled to have tea at the White House with Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

— Kevin Breuninger

Trump has repeatedly signaled that he plans to sign an executive order today to strip protections for potentially thousands of federal workers.

By reinstating the order Trump issued in his first term, known as Schedule F, it could be easier for the new administration to fire many government workers. That's because the new category of federal workers won't have the same rights as career civil servants, including an immunity from random termination.

The executive order is seen by Trump officials as one step toward the president's plan to dismantle what Trump calls the "deep state" and federal bureaucracy.

It could also allow the president to install workers who promise to carry out his agenda.

— Annie Nova

Bitcoin hit a new all-time high overnight after the Trumps each launched their own meme coins in the past few days.

As of 8:15 a.m. ET, the flagship cryptocurrency was up nearly 1% at $106,522.98, according to Coin Metrics. 

Trump launched the "Official Trump" meme coin Friday, which has risen to a $10.6 billion market cap and surged more than 659%, according to data from CoinGecko and Coinbase. 

Melania Meme has hit a $1.3 billion market cap and 14% price increase since its launch Sunday night. It has attracted $7.3 billion in trading volumes over the last day, compared to the Trump meme's $31 billion.

Meme coins are considered the riskiest corner of the already risky cryptocurrency market.

But the Trumps' coin launches are giving traders confidence that the incoming administration will be positive for the industry.

— Tanaya Macheel

On his final morning in office, President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the members of Congress and staff of the J6 committee, and officers who testified before them.

"These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions," Biden said in a statement.

"These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families," said Biden.

"That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee."

— Christina Wilkie

Trump's inaugural address will feature a memorable line calling for a "revolution of common sense," reports Kristen Welker, host of NBC News' "Meet the Press."

"I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country," Trump will say, according to an incoming White House official.

"Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense," Trump will tell the audience assembled in the rotunda.

"My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history's greatest civilization," the incoming president will say.

— Christina Wilkie and NBC News' Kristen Welker

Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump were out on the town last night until late, attending a black-tie "candlelight dinner" at the National Building Museum with the who's who of Washington's new Trump establishment.

Guests included Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez, philanthropist and Trump mega-donor Miriam Adelson, incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump, Jr. and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson, Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump, and Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner.

Vice President-elect JD Vance and incoming second lady Usha Vance were also there, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Trump HHS pick Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

The incoming president arrived at the museum around 9 p.m. ET, and left shortly after 11:30 p.m. He delivered brief remarks and thanked supporters. Save for the few minutes of Trump's remarks, the dinner was closed to press.

— Christina Wilkie

Elon Musk met with China's vice president, Han Zheng, who is in town for the Trump inauguration.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Han "welcomed Tesla and other U.S. companies to seize opportunities and share the fruits of China's development."

In turn, Musk expressed "Tesla's willingness to deepen its investment and cooperation in China and to play an active role in promoting China-U.S. economic and trade exchanges," said the ministry.

Tesla's largest single assembly plant is in Shanghai, and the company is a fierce competitor in China's EV market.

Han also met with Vance and with U.S.- China business groups.

— Christina Wilkie

Trump will deliver his second inaugural address immediately after he is sworn in today around noon. The theme of the speech will be "unity," Trump told Kristen Welker, host of NBC News' "Meet the Press."

"It's going to be a message of unity," said Trump. "We're going to be talking about unity, and we're going to be talking about success, making our country safe," he said. "Basically it's going to be about bringing our country together."

"And no 'American carnage'?" asked Welker, quoting the most memorable line of Trump's first inaugural address.

"No American carnage, no," Trump replied.  

— Christina Wilkie

The Trump Vance inaugural committee has provided a sequence of events for today.

Much of the timing is fluid, but we know that Trump will assume the presidency at precisely 12:00 p.m. ET, and that his oath of office will be administered right before that.

Below is the committee schedule, modified slightly to add an event at the Capital One Arena in place of the traditional outdoor parade.

Monday, January 20, 2025 

– St. John's Church Service 

– Tea at the White House 

– Swearing-In Ceremony: US Capitol

– Farewell to the Former President and Vice President  

– US Capitol Departure Ceremony 

– The President's Signing Room Ceremony 

– JCCIC Congressional Luncheon  

– Event at Capital One Arena [added to schedule]

– Oval Office Signing Ceremony at The White House  

– Commander in Chief Ball: President Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks 

– Liberty Inaugural Ball: President Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks 

– Starlight Ball: President Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks 

— Christina Wilkie