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Eight most awkward moments that might have been missed from Trump's inauguration

Home> News> Politics

Updated 15:24 21 Jan 2025 GMTPublished 15:21 21 Jan 2025 GMT

Eight most awkward moments that might have been missed from Trump's inauguration

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted several cringe moments during Donald Trump's inauguration yesterday

Liv Bridge

Liv Bridge

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Featured Image Credit: Kevin Lamarque - Pool/Getty Images/Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images

Topics: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Melania Trump, US News, Politics, Music, Celebrity, Entertainment, Viral

Liv Bridge
Liv Bridge

Liv Bridge is a digital journalist who joined the UNILAD team in 2024 after almost three years reporting local news for a Newsquest UK paper, The Oldham Times. She's passionate about health, housing, food and music, especially Oasis...

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In case you missed it, there have been a handful of awkward moments during the President's inauguration.

On Monday (January 20), Donald Trump took his oath to office for the second time and became the 47th President of the United States.

In less than 24 hours, he's has already signed off on some arguably controversial executive orders, including a pardon for the January 6 rioters, a halt on the TikTok ban, a policy that declares there are 'only two genders', restoring capital punishment, and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement.

Trump has made several changes already (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump has made several changes already (CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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Indeed, the States is about to go through some drastic changes with Trump at the helm, but that's not all people are talking about.

Eagle-eyed viewers have been nitpicking the highs and lows of the inauguration ceremony - and there were certainly some cringe and questionable moments worth highlighting.

So, here are just eight of those awkward moments.

Kamala Harris and Joe Biden sit silently

A moment of silence for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)
A moment of silence for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)

In his inauguration address, Trump couldn't resist firing some digs at the opposition.

While he announced the 'golden age of America begins right now', he turned to slam his predecessor's government for falling short of managing 'a simple crisis at home'.

But there was no applause or celebration from either the former President, Joe Biden, and Vice President, Kamala Harris, who instead were spotted sitting silently.

Billionaires bag best seats

The tech billionaires dominated the front row (Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images)
The tech billionaires dominated the front row (Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images)

Tech gurus and some of the world's wealthiest men were given VIP seats to the ceremony inside the Capitol Rotunda.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, with fiancee Lauren Sánchez, and SpaceX and Tesla founder, Elon Musk, all rubbed shoulders on the prestigious inaugural platform before most of Trump's predicted Cabinet officials.

And let's not forget Musk's weird personal moments during the day's events, from his strange 'thumbs up' next to a less-than-impressed Barron Trump to making an alleged 'Nazi salute', twice, when overcome with emotion about the prospect of sending a man to Mars.

The failed kiss

A touching moment between the First Lady, Melania Trump, and the President fell flat when Trump failed to land a kiss on his wife's cheek.

A body language expert revealed that while it appeared Trump was gunning for a lip-to-lip kiss, Melania turned her face away for a cheek kiss, so the pair rather awkwardly 'settled for an air kiss'.

Viewers have since pointed out the smooch perhaps failed to land due to Melania's incredibly huge hat, which another pointed out was a strange choice by the First Lady whose face was barely visible under the fedora.

Obama booed

Barack Obama didn't enter to a particularly warm reception when the former POTUS arrived.

Coming in solo without his wife, Michelle, Obama was met with 'resounding boos', NBC News reporters remarked. Awks.

However, he wasn't the only one - the Clintons and Mike Pence were also met with boos.

Senator sports shorts

The Senator apparently opts for comfort a lot of the time (Kevin Lamarque - Pool/Getty Images)
The Senator apparently opts for comfort a lot of the time (Kevin Lamarque - Pool/Getty Images)

Amid a sea of smart blue and black business attire with most of America's statesmen and stateswomen suited and booted for the occasion, there was apparently just one who didn't get the memo.

John Fetterman, the senator of Pennsylvania, rocked up wearing grey shorts, sneakers, and a black hoodie which his supporters describe as his 'trademark outfit'.

The Democrat told ABC News last month that anyone hoping Trump would fail is 'rooting against the nation', reports The Independent.

Carrie Underwood performs a cappella

The American Idol winner and country music star was forced to sing 'America the Beautiful' when a technical difficulty jeopardized her performance.

Underwood stood in silence for a few seconds while officials attempted to kick the audio into gear until she made the decision to sing without it.

She encouraged the audience to 'help' her out with the words, but critics had some mixed opinions on the show.

While some said she pulled the tech glitch off 'like a champ' and delivered an angelic performance, others said she sounded 'pitchy'.

Others also had a giggle at Harris' supposed unamused face behind her, including Ariana Grande.

Hillary Clinton giggles at Trump speech

And speaking of giggles, the Former First Lady Hillary Clinton couldn't contain herself during parts of Trump's speech.

When the President announced he would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Hillary put her head down while her shoulders rose in an apparent fit of giggles.

Opera tenor sings the national anthem

Christopher Macchio performed in the Capitol Rotunda (Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images)
Christopher Macchio performed in the Capitol Rotunda (Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images)

Trump seemed to abandon some traditions of President's past, not only by deciding not to put his hand on the Bible while taking his oath to office, but also by his rather unusual choice of performer.

Instead of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, or some other pop superstar bellowing the anthem, Trump opted for a lesser-known opera tenor, Christopher Macchio.

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