THERE HAS BEEN much talk in recent weeks about Donald Trump’s team reportedly struggling to get A-list names to attend the new US President’s inauguration and celebratory ball.
A number of big names publicly rejected apparent offers to perform, while other people, including a Bruce Springsteen tribute act – the B-Street Band, dropped out of performing at events to mark the start of Trump’s presidency.
Tom Barrack, chairman of Trump’s inaugural committee, previously said yesterday’s inauguration in Washington DC would have “poetic cadence,” rather than be a “circus-like” coronation.
So, how do Trump and Obama’s big days compare?
To quote the Washington Post, inaugurations are “really, really expensive”.
The newspaper recently crunched the numbers and estimates that yesterday’s inauguration and related events will cost in the region of $175 million to $200 million (around €164 million to €187.5 million). About $70 million (around €65.5 million) will come from private donations, with taxpayers footing the rest of the bill.
For Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, his committee raised a then record of $53 million (about €49.7 million) in private donations – about a third of the overall cost.
How do Trump’s festivities compare to Obama’s first inauguration in 2009 – in terms of performances and attendance?
Obama’s inauguration as 44th President of the United States
Trump’s inauguration as 45th President of the United States
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