President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended three inaugural balls in a single evening, marking the commencement of a new era under the “Make America Great Again” platform.
The evening began with the Commander in Chief Ball, a military-themed event, followed by their arrival at the Liberty Ball, where the President and First Lady shared the stage with members of the Trump family for a celebratory dance. The night concluded with their motorcade arrival at Union Station for the Starlight Ball.
Addressing attendees at the Liberty Ball, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, President Trump remarked, “We needed three because we have such support.”
The newly inaugurated President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were welcomed by a crowd that had waited hours to witness their arrival at the Commander in Chief Ball. Shortly before 10:30 p.m., the United States Marine Band played the couple onto the stage.
The First Lady made her entrance in a custom white and black gown designed by Hervé Pierre, who also created her inaugural dress in 2017.
The President and First Lady shared their first slow dance to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” performed by the Marine Band. They were soon joined onstage by Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, before continuing the evening’s tradition by dancing with members of the military.
“This is quite a gathering, huh?” the President remarked to the thousands in attendance, many of whom were service members dressed in formal uniforms.
The Commander in Chief Ball, a tribute to the six branches of the U.S. military, provided a memorable setting for President Donald J. Trump’s remarks. Addressing the crowd, the President proudly stated, “Recruitment numbers are through the roof for the last two months.”
Before departing the stage, President Trump engaged in a live conversation with troops stationed in South Korea, displayed on the Jumbotron screens. With a touch of humor, he asked, “How are we doing over there? How’s Kim Jong Un doing?” referencing his previous meetings with the North Korean leader during his first term, though a denuclearization agreement had not been finalized.
In a symbolic moment, President Trump used a ceremonial sword to slice into an Air Force One-themed cake, modeled after his proposed redesign of the presidential aircraft—a plan later abandoned by President Joe Biden. “I’m going to take a piece home with me,” he quipped.
As the event concluded, the song “YMCA” played while President Trump danced briefly with the sword onstage, prompting Vice President J.D. Vance to remark, “The Secret Service is getting very nervous.”
Following President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s departure from the Commander in Chief Ball, Rascal Flatts performed for the attendees. Earlier, musical acts such as Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Aldean entertained the audience as they awaited the President and First Lady’s arrival.
At the Liberty Ball, also held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the President and First Lady once again danced to The Battle Hymn of the Republic. This time, they were joined onstage by the entire Trump family, including Tiffany Trump, who proudly showcased her baby bump.
Donald Trump Jr. was also seen enjoying the festivities, dancing with his children, including daughters Chloe and Kai. Kai notably made her political debut in July by speaking at the Republican National Convention.#newsafro_
