WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump was ready to celebrate.

On Monday night, Trump kicked off the festivities by taking the stage with First Lady Melania for their inaugural dance at the Commander in Chief Ball. Shortly after, he showcased his iconic fist-pump dance move.

“Tonight, there’s no place I’d rather be than with some of America’s true patriots – the brave men and women of our military,” Trump remarked at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Dressed in a tuxedo and bowtie, Trump held hands with Melania, who wore a classic black and white dress. Just before 10:30 p.m., the pair shared their first dance to a heartfelt, Elvis-inspired version of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Vice President JD Vance, also dressed in a tuxedo, and Second Lady Usha Vance, in a glamorous blue dress, also joined the couple on stage.

The Commander in Chief Ball was just the first of three festive events Trump intended to visit that night. He later attended the Liberty Ball and planned to make an appearance at the Starlight Ball afterward.

The evening’s balls capped a busy day for the president, which began with a church service, followed by tea with outgoing President Joe Biden, a swearing-in ceremony at noon, and remarks at an indoor parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

These exclusive balls, a long-standing tradition, gather the elite of Washington D.C. and the president’s most fervent supporters. The inaugural ball tradition began in 1809 for President James Madison and his wife, Dolley, per the White House Historical Association.

After delivering a 10-minute speech at the Commander in Chief Ball, Trump connected via video to American soldiers stationed at a U.S. base in South Korea.

“How’s Kim Jong Un doing?” Trump humorously queried the troops. “How are you?”

“That’s quite a handsome group, isn’t it?” he asked those at the ball.

Before he and Vance departed, both presidents cut into a cake using a saber.

“The Secret Service is quite uneasy right now,” Vance jokingly remarked while slicing the cake.

The president ended the ball with a dance to the Village People’s “YMCA,” saber still in hand, before taking his leave.

Country band Rascal Flatts and singer-songwriter Parker McCollum were set to entertain at the Commander in Chief Ball, primarily for military personnel. Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, a close Trump ally, was broadcasting live from the event, interviewing celebrities like Kid Rock and actor Jon Voight.

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, a veteran, mingled with attendees, snapping selfies and chatting with Kid Rock ahead of Trump’s entrance.

Elsewhere at the convention center, singer-songwriter Jason Aldean performed at the Liberty Ball after a bumpy act by Billy Ray Cyrus. Clad entirely in black, from his boots to his cowboy hat, Aldean performed for nearly an hour, featuring his controversial song “Try That In A Small Town.”

“You all made this little hit into a big one for us,” Aldean said about the song. Its music video faced criticism upon its 2023 release for depicting protests against the police and footage of burning American flags.

Later that evening at the Liberty Ball, Trump shared another dance with Melania to the same soulful “Battle Hymn” they had danced to earlier. The Vances joined them on the dance floor, along with Trump’s adult children and their families, although his youngest son, 18-year-old Barron Trump, was not present.

After the dance concluded, Vance delivered his first remarks of the evening, expressing appreciation to supporters.

“I just want to extend our gratitude to all of you for ensuring we made this election impossible to rig,” Vance stated.

In his brief subsequent remarks, Trump thanked his family before the Village People performed “YMCA” for him, this time live. As he prepared to depart, Trump told lead singer Victor Willis that he was unsure if the group hit number one when they initially launched the lively track.

“But you know what? They became number one for three weeks, setting new records – they’re the top act here,” Trump noted to the attendees.

Trump concluded his night at the Starlight Ball at Union Station, where he once again danced to an emotional rendition of “Glory, Glory Hallelujah,” staying well past midnight.

In one of his final dances of the night, Trump took to the floor alongside his family and the Vances to Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way.”