Anti-Trump protestors are gearing up for a huge week of demonstrations ahead of his inauguration.

LISTEN ABOVE: Juliet Eilperin of the Washington Post spoke to Bernadine Oliver-Kerby

The exchange of power happens in the early hours of Saturday, our time.

Trump supporters are expected to gather in the hundreds of thousands in Washington, while similar numbers of people are being drawn to protests around the United States.

Around 30 groups have been granted permits to protest before during and after the event.

 

Washington Post White House bureau chief Juliet Eilperin told Bernadine Oliver-Kerby the protests are on a mammoth scale on both sides.

"Hundreds of thousands of them will be coming to Washington to celebrate his inauguration. At the same time, a counter protest, a women's march, will be the day after the inauguration, which is expected to draw a least 100,000 people."

She said protests like this aren't unprecedented, but it's a stark contrast to the inauguration of Barack Obama.

"That was a time, in many ways, of national reconciliation where even those who voted against him, people actually felt good about the country."

Ms Eilperin said the size of the protests is representative of the divisiveness of the election, and many are still upset that Trump will be inaugurated when Hillary Clinton took the popular vote.

Protest group Disrupt J 20 organiser Lacey McCauley told Rachel Smalley they're protesting to set a tone of resistance for his presidency.

"And trying to make it impossible for Trump and his allies to get anything done for the coming years."

Trump's inauguration could still be a crowd-pleasing event, despite a notable lack of celebrity guests.

Obama's 2009 swearing-in had a star-studded lineup including Beyoncé and U2.

But Ms Eilperin told Bernadine Oliver-Kerby Trump has enough skill in show business to make sure it's not a dull event.

"President elect Trump has put a lot of effort into stage craft in his reality show and through his campaign. You certainly might not have recognizable stars but there will be plenty of elements to impress a crowd."