Throngs of people who didn’t make it inside the Capital One Arena to watch the swearing-in, cheered and chanted “USA” when Donald Trump appeared on a big screen outside at the start of the noon ceremony transferring power to him.
Reid Beck from North Carolina waited outside on Sunday, Jan. 19 for seven hours trying to get into Trump’s victory rally at the same arena. He never got in so decided to skip the line the next day and instead just congregate with other supporters.
“This is a historic moment for America, that we have a president that actually cares about people and not just about himself and the rich elite but a president that genuinely loves America,” Beck said.
Trump took the oath and was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts with his family surrounding him. First Lady Melania Trump held two Bibles, but her husband did not put his hand on either one. The first was a personal Bible, and the second was the Lincoln Bible that President Abraham Lincoln used in 1861 when he took the oath of office.
During his speech, Trump declared that the “golden age of America begins now,” adding that the country will be respected again as it flourishes. He also acknowledged the fact that his inauguration landed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and stated that his administration will “strive together to make his dream a reality.”
He vowed to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, stop foreign wars and take back the Panama Canal from Panama.
At the Capitol Rotunda, where the swearing-in took place, business leaders sat in front of Trump’s cabinet picks. They were allowed to bring spouses but congressional leaders were not. After the ceremony, leaders from both parties and guests of the new president gathered in the Statuary Hall for the inaugural luncheon to celebrate the new administration.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton was among those guests and was greeting billionaires in the room such as Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post.
Trump also announced that he wants the U.S. to plant its flag on Mars and said he “will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars.” This statement led Elon Musk of SpaceX to throw his hands up in the air in celebration.
Beck said he felt anxious and excited for what will happen with Trump returning to office for a second term.
“I believe that we will see the world take a turn for calmness because I believe the world is better when America is the strongest,” he said. “We’ve had four years of a weak America and we’re about to have four years of the most strongest military.” When asked what specific policies Trump has that he supports he said, “Gosh there’s a lot…nothing off the top of my head.”
Ruth Douglas from Pennsylvania was at Trump’s last inauguration in 2017 and said this year’s crowd was “bigger and better,” she said. She also was at the Jan. 6 terror attack on the capital that left five people dead and injured more than 174 police officers. Trump was impeached for inciting an insurrection.
Trump talked about the Jan. 6 attack at the Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitors Center; vowing to pardon those involved in the violence whom he referred to as “hostages,” the Associated Press reported. More than 1,230 people were charged with federal crimes in the riot.
Las Hancock from Colorado was selling hats and buttons three blocks from Capital One Arena. “I support America, I don’t support any specific individual, but he’s right for America right now, he’s what we need,” he said. Hancock said he believes that Trump is not a politician but rather a businessman.
“He’s already negotiated a ceasefire and he has got deals going with China and with Russia,” he said, referring to the months-long deal to end fighting between Hamas and Israel that the Biden administration negotiated.
Before he left office, former President Joe Biden issued sanctions against Russians and launched investigations into Chinese shipbuilding, which analysts have said could help Trump by giving him negotiating tools.
During his 30 minute speech, Trump said he will once again withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, weakening global climate efforts. This move mirrors his 2017 decision to leave the accord, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius.
“The whole climate change to me is a joke because throughout history, climate has been changing, God is in control. The Earth has run in cycles,” said Hancock when asked about Trump’s recent withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Shannon Kosky from Ohio was watching the inauguration from inside Urban Roast, a coffee near the Capital One Arena. After waiting three hours in line, she gave up after the shop stopped letting people in at 12. “I feel like whether it were Donald Trump or Joe Biden were president or Barack Obama or even Bush before him, I can only be hopeful. We hope that whatever he ends up doing, that it works out best for the American people and in turn the world. I just want peace,” Kosky said.
Copy edited by Patience Hurston