WASHINGTON (Reuters) – They came from New York and Washington, North Carolina and Southern California, New Jersey and Newcastle, and even from Europe and China.
Many were longtime supporters of incoming US President Donald Trump, veterans of the MAGA-hatted crowd who fervently believe in his refrain that he will “Make America Great Again.” Some had never heard Trump speak before and were curious.
Some were not particularly political but wanted to see history in the making. Some thought that a convicted felon had no right to be in the White House and protested against him.
They were there to witness – albeit via a screen – Trump’s swearing in for a second term on Monday, which has promised to push back the limits of executive power, deport millions of immigrants, ensure retaliation against his political enemies and transform the role of the US on the world stage.
Perry Burnett, age 56, attended his first inauguration. He was dressed in red and wearing a MAGA cap.
“All this gear I’m wearing, I wouldn’t be able to wear it in public in Southern California,” he said. His expectations were high. “My wife, the day he was elected, she booked the tickets, she said, ‘we have to be there for this, because this is going to change the world’.”
For Daul Williams, 61, his fourth inauguration was all about the economy and inflation — issues that polls show were key to Trump’s election victory in November and top concerns for many voters.
“I love bacon. I love bacon at $7 a pound. Right now, bacon is $13.50 a pound,” he said.
Grace Sun traveled all the way from Shenzhen in southeast China and hoped Trump would announce better relations between Washington and Beijing. Millie Eads (EPA:), a high school teacher from Texas, wanted her students to know “that this is a beautiful country to live in.” She wrapped herself in a huge yellow poncho to protect herself from the bad weather.
The two men, known only as Alex and James, dressed as Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, were old friends who met in the US capital for an event and admitted they weren’t really there for politics.
“We just came to have a good time,” they said.
PORTRAIT OF THE PROTEST
Not everyone was happy about the prospect of the next four years. Although anti-Trump protests were smaller than in 2017, thousands of activists held a ‘People’s March’ on Saturday and others took to the snow to protest on Monday.
Cameron White, 27, of Manassas, Virginia, attended Monday’s event. He is the organizer of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, he said.
“We’re not a protest against Trump. Trump is just a representative of a bigger system. And that’s the system we’re organizing and trying to fight against,” White said.
Morgan Artyukhina of Washington said she’s worried about what’s to come. Like others at the protest, she said she was worried about what a Trump presidency would mean for immigrants, the poor and LGBTQ people.
But she said she also felt solidarity from those like her who opposed his policies.
“Our message is that we’re not really going to be divided by their hateful messages. We’re going to be united and we’re going to stand up for each other,” she said.
Like others who ventured outside, Artyukhina, wearing boots and a hat, chased away the cold. The ceremony was moved indoors for the first time in 40 years due to low temperatures.
Michael Vasquez, 58, from North Carolina, waved an eight-foot (2.4 meter) blue and white “TRUMP” sign.
“The sign here warms me,” he said. “It warms Americans and it warms people around the world.”
“We won. We’re back. I’m excited.”
