The president-elect promises to dismantle the US-Mexico border, more oil drilling, reining in the federal workforce and gutting diversity programs.
The President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, vowed to end “four long years of America’s decline” at a raucous pre-inauguration rally in the capital, Washington, DC.
“We’re going to give them the best first day, the greatest first week and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history,” Trump told a packed 20,000-seat stadium of fans at the “Make America Great Again (MAGA) Victory Rally” at Capital One Arena on Sunday.
“Tomorrow, at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline and we begin a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” Trump said, adding: “Once and for all, we will end the reign of a failed and corrupt political establishment in Washington.”
Trump, 78, is because of the oath as the 47th US President on Monday at 17:00 GMT. After that, he will take the presidential oath inside the rotunda of the Capitol building cold weather it prompted the organizers to move the ceremony indoors.
At the MAGA rally, Trump promised “a brand new day American strength and prosperity” by cracking down on everything from “illegal” immigration across the US-Mexico border to promoting oil drilling, reining in the federal workforce and gutting diversity programs.
“By sunset tomorrow, the invasion of our country will stop,” he said.
The event marked his first major address in Washington, DC since his speech on January 6, 2021, which preceded the attack on the US Capitol by an angry mob of his supporters. Trump said he will pardon many of the more than 1,500 people who have been convicted or charged in connection with the attack.
Sticking to the populist imagery and messaging of his presidential campaign, Trump entered the stadium from a public entrance, allowing him to pass through the throngs of fans before reaching the stage.
He promised to rescind “every radical and stupid executive order of the Biden administration” within hours of taking office. Local media reports say he will take more than 200 executive actions on Monday.
“You will see executive orders that will make you extremely happy. A lot of them,” Trump told his supporters at the rally.
He also said he would release historical files relating to the assassinations of prominent figures in the 1960s, including President John F Kennedy, his brother Bobby Kennedy, who was assassinated while running for president, and Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most respected civil rights leaders in the USA.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Space X, Tesla and owner of X, once again got top billing at the MAGA gathering.
Musk was one of Trump’s most vocal supporters during the recent US election and is set to lead the newly created Department for Government Efficiency – better known by its acronym DOGE – to reduce federal manpower and spending.
Kid Rock and singer Lee Greenwood, whose God Bless the USA is a Trump favorite, also performed at the event.
Jon Voight, the actor who was appointed by Trump as a special ambassador to Hollywood, called the president-elect “our hero”.
“A man who never gave up on the American people, and we the people never gave up on him,” Voight said.
