Bauer and mentor Carl Benton battle an international crisis, while here at home the nation prepares for a new president on inauguration day. Taking place just a few months before the new day dawns, U.S. State Department officer Frank Tramell and Jonah Hodges are pulling the strings that will set the stage and raise the stakes for Season Seven.

Not even at the halfway point of this hellacious day, two planes have collided outside of D.C., there has been an attempt on a chemical plant in Ohio, the President’s husband’s life has been threatened and the nation remains at risk. When Dubaku’s evil plan escalates to his boss, General Juma (guest star Tony Todd), the stakes are raised and steadfast President Taylor faces a deepening foreign policy dilemma.

Juma and his men take the White House by storm, killing most of the Secret Service and trapping Taylor and Jack in the saferoom. His efforts to extract her are thwarted until he is informed that the President's daughter is in the White House as well.

Renee and Larry try to convince Vice President Hayworth to let them rescue the President, but Hayworth will not budge until the FBI can produce proof that she is not in imminent danger.

The siege on the White House reaches an explosive end after Jack and Bill work together to try and save President Taylor.

Meanwhile, Jonas Hodges makes moves to cover his own tracks, starting with Ryan Burnett.