President Donald Trump and Melania Trump sent the crowd into a tizzy when they finally showed up at the Commander in Chief inaugural ball Monday night.
‘This is quite a gathering huh?’ the newly sworn-in president said.
It was their first of three official stops.
The first lady debuted a black and white leggy dress.
They did their first slow dance to The Battle Hymn of the Republic played by the United States Marine Band before being joined onstage by Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha.
The couples then danced with members of the military, as is the custom.
The Commander in Chief ball is dedicated to the six branches of the military, with many attendees sporting their dress uniforms. Thousands were in the room.
‘Recruitment numbers are through the roof for the last two months,’ Trump boasted as he addressed the crowd.
The 47th president and Melania Trump were played onto the ornate stage at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center by the Marine Band, right before 10:30 p.m., several hours after they were initially expected to arrive.
They’ll head to the Liberty Ball and then the Starlight Ball before official inauguration programming ends for the day.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at the Commander in Chief ball Monday night
President Donald Trump (left) pumped his fist as first lady Melania Trump (right) waved as they arrived at the first of three inaugural balls – the Commander in Chief ball – at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Monday night
President Donald Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) danced to a rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic Monday night at the Commander in Chief ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The crowd started chanting at the sight of Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News anchor who’s President Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary. He stopped by to see his former Fox News colleagues and then took selfies with members of the crowd
Actor Jon Voight makes a face as he attends the Commander in Chief inaugural ball Monday night
Kid Rock showed up to where Fox News was broadcasting with a drink and a cigar in hand, despite the Washington Convention Center being smoke-free
During the hours that the Trumps were delayed, all attention was on where Fox News was broadcasting in the press section.
The crowd started cheering at the sight of ex-Fox weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, now Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, who was given a hug by Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
Hegseth jokingly declined an interview with CNN, who was broadcasting nearby, as he took selfies with attendees down the line.
Actor Jon Voight was also on hand, as was Kid Rock, who lit up a cigar in the smoke-free venue. He also carried what appeared to be a whisky as he got on-set with Hannity.
The three official balls were the top tickets in town to score – though a number of conservative groups held their own fetes throughout the weekend as well.
At Turning Point USA’s Sunday night shindig, Kid Rock surprised the crowd with a encore performance after appearing at Trump’s victory rally earlier in the day.
He was followed by The Village People, who got the crowd going with MAGA classics Macho Man and YMCA.
TV chef Paula Deen, retired racecar driver Danica Patrick, Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor, rapper Amber Rose and Fox News‘ Judge Jeanine Pirro appeared at the party alongside incoming Trump administration officials Alina Habba, Kash Patel and Sergio Gor.
Donald Trump Jr. and Vance joined Turning Point’s leader Charlie Kirk onstage.
Donald Trump Jr. (right) and his ex Kimberly Guilfoyle (left) appeared onstage together at Satudray night’s Hispanic Inaugural Ball at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
His new girlfriend, Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, is photographed at Sunday night’s candlelight dinner at D.C.’s ornate National Building Museum
Bettina Anderson (left) joined Donald Trump Jr. (right) onstage at Turning Point USA’s Inaugural-Eve Bash that featured the Village People and Kid Rock
The Village People perform as (from left) Alina Habba, Donald Trump Jr., Judge Jeanine Pirro, Sergio Gor and Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk look on
Donald Trump Jr. (left) performs the YMCA alongside Bettina Anderson (second from left), Vice President J.D. Vance (center), Alina Habba (center right) and Sergio Gor (right)
Rapper Waka Flocka Flame attends the Power 30 Awards event at Sax Restaurant & Lounge on Sunday, which was sponsored by TikTok amid questions about the app’s future in the U.S.
Snoop Dogg performed at the first ever Crypto Ball that took place Friday night in Washington, D.C. ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration
After The Village People performed YMCA Don Jr.’s new love Bettina Anderson joined him alongside the other MAGA VIPs.
Trump Jr. was forced to share the stage with his ex-fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle at Saturday night’s Hisptanic gala. After their breakup was revealed the president named her ambassador to Greece.
The first son and his new girlfriend also attended the Crypto ball – where Guilfoyle was also present.
That event – the first of its kind – brought rapper Snoop Dogg into town.
Across town at Sax Restaurant & Lounge on Sunday, TikTok had sponsored the Power 30 Awards, honoring conservatives who have excelled at messaging online, including House in Habit, Libs of TikTok, Ben Shapiro and those who managed the Trump War Room account.
Rappers Waka Flocka Flame and Lil Pump were in attendance and TiKTok gave out branded merchandise including fluffy earmuffs.
