Washington, 20 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Donald Trump was set to be sworn in as President of the United States in Washington on Monday, returning to the White House for a second term four years after his initial re-election bid ended in defeat.

Trump, a Republican, will replace outgoing President Joe Biden in the top US political office at noon (1700 GMT), two and a half months after defeating outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.

Biden had defeated Trump in 2020, but stepped aside as the Democratic candidate mid-campaign in July amid intense concerns about his age and mental fitness.

Trump, who has long refused to acknowledge his defeat in the 2020 election, ultimately stayed away from Biden's swearing-in ceremony in January 2021, breaking with tradition.

Earlier that month, Trump's insistence that he won and that his "victory" was stolen from him led to the storming of the Capitol in Washington, the seat of the US Congress, by his supporters.

Biden, on the other hand, is set attend the ceremony as per tradition.

In the morning, Trump was scheduled to attend a service at St. John's Church in Washington. After the swearing-in ceremony, the Bidens were then set to receive the Trumps for tea at the White House.

The inauguration was originally meant to take place outside on the west side of the Capitol as usual, but was relocated moved indoors as Washington was experiencing stuck in sub-zero temperatures.

After taking the oath of office, Trump will deliver his inaugural speech.

Photo: EPA