On Monday night, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump electrified the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The couple danced for the first time to “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and later joined military personnel on stage. Trump celebrated hiring increases during his first term and humorously interacted with military members in South Korea via Jumbotron. He also cut into a cake resembling scrapped Air Force One design with a sword. The night featured performances from Rascal Flatts and the Village People, with appearances by family members and notable guests like Pete Hegseth and Jon Voight.
On Monday night, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump finally showed up at the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball, electrifying the crowd.
“This is quite a gathering, isn’t it?” said the newly sworn-in president.
It was the first of three official visits.
The first lady wore a custom white and black leg dress by Hervé Pierre, the same designer who created her 2017 inaugural gown.
They slow danced for the first time to “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” performed by the U.S. Marine Corps Band, before being joined on stage by Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha.
The couple then danced with members of the military, as is customary.
The Commander-in-Chief Ball is dedicated to the six branches of the military, and many attendees wear their uniforms.
Addressing a crowd of several thousand people, President Trump boasted that “over the past two months, our hiring numbers have increased by an order of magnitude.”
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive at the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball on Monday night
Melania Trump, right, is spun around by military personnel at the Commander in Chief’s Ball on Monday night. Nearby, President Donald Trump (left) dances with military personnel. These dances are customary at the Supreme Commander’s Ball
At the Liberty Ball, members of the Trump family including (from left) Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos, Lara Trump and Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Mr. and Mrs. Vance (left), Melania and Donald Trump (center) joined.
The 47th president and Melania Trump appeared on the Walter E. Washington Convention Center’s glittering stage just before 10:30 p.m., hours later than originally scheduled to arrive, accompanied by a Marine Corps band.
Before leaving the stage, President Trump spoke with members of the military stationed in South Korea who appeared on the jumbotron screen.
“How’s it going over there?” How’s Kim Jong-un doing? ‘ he said with a laugh.
During his first term, he met with North Korea’s Kim three times, but they were unable to reach a denuclearization agreement.
Trump then used a sword on stage to cut into the Air Force One cake, which was made to resemble the design of President Joe Biden’s scrapped presidential plane.
“I’m going to take one home with me,” he said.
As he started to leave, a YMCA song played, and before he left, he danced on stage with a sword in his hand.
“The Secret Service is very nervous,” Vance said after seeing the scene.
The U.S. Marine Corps Band performed for President Donald Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) at the Commander in Chief Ball, the first of three official balls, on Monday night.
President Donald Trump (left) and Vice President J.D. Vance (right) hold up the swords Trump used to cut the Air Force One cake (his own) at the Commander in Chief Ball on Monday night. (contains design)
President Donald Trump (right) and first lady Melania Trump (left) danced to a rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the Commander in Chief Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Monday night.
Vice President J.D. Vance (left) and his second daughter Usha Vance (right) appear on stage at the Commander in Chief Ball on Monday night at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
President Donald Trump cuts into the cake with a sword resembling Air Force One, a color scheme Republicans had wanted for the new plane but was scrapped by President Joe Biden.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump danced for the first time Monday night at the Commander in Chief Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
First Lady Melania Trump, right, waves and pumps her fist as she arrives at the Commander in Chief Ball, the first of three inaugural balls held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Monday night. President Donald Trump (left) pushes up.
President Donald Trump (right) gives a short speech at the Commander in Chief Ball with (from left) Vice President J.D. Vance, Usha Vance, and First Lady Melania Trump.
President Donald Trump (left) gestures to the crowd while dancing with first lady Melania Trump (right) at the Commander in Chief’s Ball on Monday night.
The Trumps headed to the Liberty Ball and then the Starlight Ball before the formal inauguration program concluded for the day.
“With so much support, we needed three people,” he explained on the Liberty Bowl stage.
Rascal Flatts performed after the Trumps departed the Commander-in-Chief Ball, while other musical acts, including Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Aldean, captivated the audience awaiting the president and first lady. I made it.
The president and first lady danced again to the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the Liberty Ball, which was also held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
But at the Liberty Ball, the entire Trump family appeared on stage, including Tiffany Trump, who had a visible baby bump.
They danced slowly to the Unchained melody. Then the band The Village People came out again to play the MAGA classic YMCA.
Village People performed at the Trump Victory Rally on Sunday afternoon and again at Turning Point USA’s Inauguration Eve Ball.
President Donald Trump (left) and First Lady Melania Trump (right) arrive at their second stop of the night, the Liberty Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Ivanka Trump (left) and Jared Kushner (right) dance on stage at the Liberty Ball, the second of three official inaugural balls.
Chloe Trump (left) dances with her father Donald Trump Jr. (right) at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on Monday night.
The crowd began screaming at the sight of former Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth, whom President Donald Trump nominated for secretary of defense. He stopped by to meet former Fox News colleagues and then took selfies with members of the crowd
Actor Jon Voight grimaces as he attends the Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball on Monday night.
Kid Rock shows up at the Washington Convention Center with a drink and a cigar in hand, even though smoking is prohibited at the Fox News station.
Billy Ray Cyrus performs at the Liberty Ball on Monday night ahead of the Trumps’ arrival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
During the several hours the Trumps were delayed, all eyes were on where Fox News would broadcast its coverage of the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball.
The crowd began cheering as Pete Hegseth, a former Fox weekend anchor and now President Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, was hugged by Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
Hegseth jokingly declined an interview with CNN, which was broadcasting nearby, and took a selfie with a participant midway through.
Afterward, Trump cheered Hegseth from the stage.
Actor Jon Voight was also in attendance, and Kid Rock also lit up a cigar in the non-smoking venue.
He also carried what appeared to be whiskey when entering the set with Hannity and other Fox guests.
The three official balls were the highest-scoring tickets in the city, but many conservative groups held their own festivals throughout the weekend as well.
