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"Trump's second term begins" and "Biden's preemptive pardons."

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By Meg Kinnard

January 20, 2025

Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in as the 47th president on Monday.

Welcome to this week’s edition of AP Ground Game.

THE HEADLINES

President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Sunday, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

An unprecedented comeback

When Trump takes the oath of office at noon, he will solidify a political comeback without precedent in American history.

Four years ago, Trump was voted out of the White House during an economic collapse caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Trump denied he lost and tried to cling to power by directing his supporters to march on the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the election results.

Frigid weather is rewriting the pageantry of the day: Trump’s swearing-in ceremony was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda — the first time that’s happened in 40 years — and the inaugural parade will instead morph into an indoor event at a downtown arena. Throngs of Trump supporters who descended on the capital to watch the inaugural ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol from the National Mall will be left to find somewhere else to view his ascension. Read more.

Of note:

Eight years after he first entered the White House as a political newcomer, Trump is far more familiar with the federal government this time and emboldened to bend it to his vision. He has promised retribution against his political opponents and critics and placed personal loyalty as the primary qualification for appointments to his administration.

Related reads ➤

Biden offers pardons to Fauci, Milley, Jan. 6 committee

Biden used the extraordinary powers of his office in his administration’s final hours to guard against potential “revenge” by the incoming Trump administration.

Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, raised Trump’s ire when he resisted Trump’s untested public health ideas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Milley is the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He later called Trump a fascist and detailed Trump’s conduct around Jan. 6.

Biden also extended pardons to members and staff of the Jan. 6 committee that investigated the attack, as well as the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the committee about their experiences that day, overrun by an angry, violent mob of Trump supporters. Read more.

Of note:

While the Supreme Court last year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, the president’s aides and allies enjoy no such shield. There are fears that Trump or future presidents could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law.

Related reads ➤

Inside Trump's TikTok shift

Trump as hailed by TikTok as its savior Sunday, after the president-elect told tech companies they would not be punished for hosting the app that he once led the charge to ban but embraced during his winning campaign.

One day after the hugely popular video-sharing site went dark for users, Trump took to his social media site to announce that he would issue an executive order after he is sworn in Monday, delaying a ban that went into effect Sunday “so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.” He said the order would make clear that companies will not be held liable for violating the law, which aims to force the company's sale by its China-based parent company.

“I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!" he wrote, adding that “Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations."

Hours later, the app returned to the relief of its legions of users. Read more.

Of note:

It’s unclear whether Trump has the legal authority to unilaterally choose not to enforce the federal law, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in April, was quickly signed by Biden, and was upheld by the Supreme Court Friday. But Trump can now take credit for having revived an app with 170 million users that is especially popular with younger Americans.

Related reads ➤

TRAIL PHOTO

President Joe Biden speaks during a church service at Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, S.C., Sunday. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

ON THE CALENDAR

Trump takes the oath of office at noon Eastern on Monday. Following the swearing-in at the Rotunda, he is expected to greet supporters for an event at Capitol One Arena in Washington, in lieu of the traditional inaugural parade, and sign dozens of executive orders.
Biden ends his term as president on Monday, hosting the Trumps for tea at the White House, attending the Capitol swearing-in and then departing the Washington area from Joint Base Andrews for California.

2024 COUNTDOWN

OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON

Missouri moves: Lawmakers are going after voter-approved abortion rights. Voters will likely reelect them

Holiday hitch: Alabama and Mississippi will also honor Robert E. Lee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

That’s all from me for the day, thanks for reading Ground Game. Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. - Meg