Originally appeared on E! Online
Kamala Harris is heading home.
Shortly after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States Jan. 20—and Vice President JD Vance took his oath of office—the former vice president boarded a flight bounded for her home state to visit firefighters battling wildfires raging across Southern California and help distribute food with nonprofit World Central Kitchen.
And much like her vice presidency, Harris’ departure was a historic one. After all, it was the first time an all-female crew operated a C-32 for the U.S. Air Force, according to MSNBC.
Harris was joined by her husband, former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, for the flight.
The 60-year-old—who ran against Trump in the 2024 presidential election—told her team that she wanted to meet with Californian first responders sooner, but a trip to the West Coast during her final days in office never materialized, per Politico.
“President Biden and I convened local, state, and federal officials for a briefing on our coordinated response to the wildfires across Southern California,” Harris wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Jan. 10. “To my fellow Californians: We are with you. And we will be with you as communities recover and rebuild.”
She added at the time, “From our heroic first responders to the neighbors who are helping each other, Californians are stepping up and showing the best of the American spirit in a moment of crisis. Our Administration will continue to do everything we can to support state and local response efforts.”
Harris passed off her duties to as vice president JD Vance on Jan. 20. Per White House tradition, she and Emhoff met with Vance and his wife Usha Vance for tea hours before the inauguration.
But unlike years prior, the swearing-in ceremony took place inside the Capitol Rotunda—marking it the first time the event happened indoors since in 1985, when Ronald Reagan took the Oath of Office. This year’s ceremony was moved inside at Trump’s behest due to “very cold weather.”
“I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” the POTUS wrote on Truth Social Jan. 17. “It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th.”
To see photos from the inauguration, keep reading.
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She added at the time, “From our heroic first responders to the neighbors who are helping each other, Californians are stepping up and showing the best of the American spirit in a moment of crisis. Our Administration will continue to do everything we can to support state and local response efforts.”
Harris passed off her vice presidential duties to Vance on Jan. 20. Per White House tradition, she and Emhoff met with the former senator and his wife Usha Vance for tea hours before the inauguration.
But unlike years prior, the swearing-in ceremony took place inside the Capitol Rotunda—marking it the first time the event happened indoors since in 1985, when Ronald Reagan took the oath of office. This year’s ceremony was moved inside at Trump’s behest due to “very cold weather.”
“I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” the POTUS wrote on Truth Social Jan. 17. “It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th.”
To see photos from the inauguration, keep reading.
Barron Trump, Melania Trump & Donald Trump
Ivanka Trump
Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump & Melania Trump
“Welcome home,” President Joe Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the White House.
Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris & JD Vance
Michael Boulous & Tiffany Trump
Pregnant Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos joined her father at the St. John’s Church services.
Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner
Former advisor Ivanka was joined at the services by husband Jared Kushner and their kids Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.
Elon Musk
Trump pal Elon Musk took in the view as he arrived inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar & Donald Trump
Before delivering her speech, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar led Biden and Trump out of the White House. “While we have major differences of opinions on policy and the like,” she said of chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, “I want to make sure this works,” Klobuchar said of the ceremony.”
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush & Laura Bush
George W. Bush, Laura Bush & Barack Obama
Mike Pence
Trump’s former vice president Mike Pence turned up solo for the ceremony.
Eric Adams
New York City mayor Eric Adams worked the room at the Capitol.
Janet Jones & Wayne Gretzky
Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones were among those who decided to take a shot at watching the inauguration.
Rupert Murdoch & Elena Zhukova
Former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch (joined by wife Elena Zhukova) was among the billionaire businesspeople in attendance.
Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Tech talk: Tesla CEO Musk socialized with Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Robert F. Kennedy
Trump’s pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy came to watch him get sworn in.
Mitch McConnell & Elaine Chao
Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell held tight to wife Elaine Chao.
Jake Paul & Logan Paul
Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr.
Barron Trump
Trump’s youngest child—New York University student Barron—traveled to Washington, D.C. to watch him take the oath of office for the second time.
Christopher Macchio
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio was tapped to sing the National Anthem. “I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread across the National Mall,” he acknowledged to the Associated Press ahead of the events. “Unfortunately I won’t be getting that visual while I perform, but it’s still going to be such a tremendous honor.”
Shou Zi Chew
Hours after TikTok went dark (and then restored service) in the United States, CEO Shou Zi Chew turned up at the inauguration.
Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy & Kristi Noem
Apple CEO Tim Cook posed alongside onetime presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.
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