Donald Trump is the president of the United States again. It’s a development that will have a significant political impact on the U.S., Canada and around the world.聽
But, if the inauguration events聽taking place in Washington, D.C. this week are any indication, Trump’s presidency will also be filled with a chaotic stream of bizarre memes and viral moments. Here are 10 that are lighting up the internet.
Dignitaries from across Washington and around the world crammed into the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday to watch presidential power transfer peacefully from Democrat Joe Biden to his Republican successor, Donald Trump. (AP Video / Jan. 20, 2025)
1. Melania Trump donned a kiss-proof hat
The first lady attended her second inauguration wearing a slim-fit navy silk-and-wool coat and skirt set by American designer Adam Lippes. But it was her hat 鈥 a wide, flat-brimmed, low-slung chapeau that doubled as an intimacy deterrent 鈥 that ignited social media, as her husband tried, and failed, to snag a kiss during this morning’s proceedings.聽
Form meets function
鈥 The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow)
2. Trump saluted the “leatherman”聽

Donald Trump thanks the Village People after they performed at a victory rally at Capital One Arena in Washington on Sunday.
JIM WATSON AFP via Getty ImagesThe incoming president did the viral “Trump dance” during the Village People’s performance of the MAGA staple, “Y.M.C.A,” on Sunday evening. But more importantly 鈥 at least according to those who spend their time on the internet 鈥 Trump also took a moment to offer an earnest salute to the Village Person dressed as a biker, a.k.a “leatherman.”
This was both an interesting moment and an educational one: turns out that all “chaps” have no seat, making the term ”” a tautology.聽
the one in the assless chaps saluted him and he saluted back 馃槶
鈥 Talia Jane 鉂わ笍鈥嶐煍 (@taliaotg)
3. Elon Musk gave a controversial “salute”

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena, in Washington, D.C., on Monday.聽
Angela Weiss/Getty ImagesExpect to see a lot of Elon Musk during the next four years. The tech titan and world’s richest man will head up Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
On Monday afternoon, speaking at an inauguration event, Musk thanked his audience before pounding his chest and shooting out his right arm. He then turned around and repeated the gesture. 鈥淢y heart goes out to you,鈥 he said.
The moment immediately drew comparisons to the “Sieg Heil” Nazi salute.聽
“You saw him come out with that odd-looking salute,鈥 CNN anchor Erin Burnett noted during a TV broadcast.
The ensuing fervour on social media was more blunt. “They put you in prison in Germany if you do that,” 聽Others defended Musk on social media,
4. Barron Trump grabbed the attention of basketball recruiters

Barron Trump arrives before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Monday.聽
Chip Somodevilla APSince Trump was first elected, much ink has been spilled about the president鈥檚 鈥,鈥 Donald Jr. and Eric. But Trump鈥檚 youngest child, Barron, has largely evaded the spotlight.
That may be about to change, given that Barron is now 18 and looks looks like he could an up-and-coming shooting guard for Washington Wizards. Indeed, standing behind the president鈥檚 podium at Monday鈥檚 inauguration, the baby-faced Barron towered over the other attendees.
But exactly how tall is Barron? Google has him listed at 2.06 metres, which is almost 6 foot 8. However, he was listed at 6 foot 7 during his graduation from Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach last May. That鈥檚 at least four inches taller than his father, who is listed at 6 foot 3, or 1.9 metres.
Barron Trump supposed to be guarding Cooper Flagg
鈥 Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 馃嚫馃嚧 (@big_business_)
5. A parade of billionaires spent the morning with the incoming president聽

Guests including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.聽
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)Trump kicked off his morning Monday with a聽pre-inauguration visit to St. John鈥檚 Church. Among those in attendance were several tech and media tycoons. These included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (net worth $239.4 billion), Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg (net worth $211.8 billion), Apple CEO Tim Cook (net worth $2.2 billion), Google CEO Sundar Pichai (net worth $2.1 billion), media tycoon Rupert Murdoch (net worth $22.2 billion), TikTok CEO Shou Zi (net worth $1.5 billion) and Tesla founder Elon Musk (net work $433.9 billion). (All figures U.S.)
Together, these men, who also had front-row seats to the inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda, have a combined wealth of nearly $1 trillion.聽
“Congrats on defeating the establishment,”
6. Carrie Underwood’s performance was briefly beset by technical difficulties
You had one job!
Carrie Underwood鈥檚 highly anticipated performance at Trump鈥檚 inauguration nearly went off the rails on Monday afternoon, after technical difficulties forced her to stand in awkward silence for about 60 seconds, before deciding to sing “America the Beautiful” without musical accompaniment. To her credit, the a cappella performance went off without a hitch.
7. Senator Fetterman kept it casual
John Fetterman arrives in a hoodie and shorts鈥
鈥 Reda (@redamor_)
Trump鈥檚 official swearing-in ceremony was moved inside the Capitol Rotunda due to forecasts of 鈥渋ntense cold weather,鈥 with temperatures dipping below zero around noon. But the chilly air did not seem to bother Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who arrived at the Capitol wearing a baggy pair of shorts and a black Carhartt hoodie. Though Fetterman is known for his casual attire, he for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 address to Congress last summer.
8. Lee Greenwood hawked his new Trump-themed bibles聽
During the Fox News broadcast of the pre-inauguration events on Sunday evening, American singer and saxophonist Lee Greenwood聽鈥 whose song “God Bless the U.S.A. has聽been a staple at Republican rallies and conventions since Ronald Reagan was president聽鈥 took the opportunity to promote the God Bless the U.S.A. Bible, a version of the King James translation of the holy book that he and Trump are selling to supporters for $59.99.聽
“When Donald Trump puts his聽hand on the bible and swears an oath to take care of the country 鈥 I’m hoping it’ll be this bible, which is released tomorrow, as a tribute to Donald Trump,” Greenwood said. It’s unclear whether this happened.
blasphemous grifting -- Lee Greenwood says Trump may take the oath of office on a new limited edition Trump bible that is going to be released tomorrow
鈥 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar)
9. The Obama-Bush buddy comedy no one asked for
George W. Bush appeared to be having a good time at the inauguration on Monday. “I love George Bush and his 10-year-old-Christmas-concert-spirit,” one X user wrote, posting a video of 43rd president smirking in his seat.
Presidents Obama and Bush on their way to the Capitol Rotunda:
鈥 Emily Davies (@ELaserDavies)
Staffer to Bush: 鈥淎re you going to behave?鈥
Obama chimes in from behind: 鈥淣ope.鈥
But leave it to Barack Obama to steal the show with a clever retort after a staffer asked Bush if was going to behave himself as the two former president’s made their way through the Capitol Rotunda. “Nope,” Obama quipped.
10. Hillary Clinton chuckled at Trump’s plan to rename the Gulf of Mexico
The former first lady and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was seen laughing as the newly-sworn in Donald Trump reiterated his plan to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Hillary laughing at Trump announcing he鈥檚 renaming the Gulf Of Mexico to the Gulf of America 馃槀
鈥 Adam (@AdamJSmithGA)
The plan will be enacted “a short time from now,” Trump said during his address, promising that this would be one of his first executive orders as president.
Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request.
There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again.
You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.
Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation