By Josh Boak, Fatima Hussein, and Will Weissert, Associated Press
Washington (AP)At a boisterous rally on the eve of his inauguration on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump pledged to take immediate action on Day 1 to transform the federal government, quickly reorient federal priorities, and ensure that four long years of American decline come to an end.
Cheering as Trump promised to act quickly on everything from cracking down on the U.S.-Mexico border to promoting oil drilling, reining in the federal workforce, and eliminating diversity programs, supporters packed the nearly full Capital One Arena in downtown Washington for a Make America Great victory celebration.
Trump, who also pledged to reverse executive orders taken by his predecessor, outgoing President Joe Biden, within hours, said, “We’re going to give them the best first day, the biggest first week, and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history.”
Unusually, Trump arrived at the concourse level of the arena and walked slowly down the stairs before to his speech, pausing often to pump his fist and take photos with rally attendees. When the Village People entered the stage after he concluded his speech and the president-elect sang and even danced briefly to YMCA, an unofficial campaign anthem, it became even more bizarre.
Trump told the gathering, “You’re going to see executive orders that are going to make you extremely happy,” as he announced a number of unilateral moves from the White House to kickstart his agenda. Many of them.
Trump had the opportunity to rally his core supporters on Sunday, his first full day back in Washington since his election day victory, ahead of the formal pomp and circumstance of Inauguration Day. Officials did not anticipate widespread demonstrations, turmoil, or bloodshed, in contrast to 2021, when Trump attempted to hold onto power after losing to Biden and helped incite a mob of his fans to invade the Capitol.
On Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia, Melina Trump and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the family of Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo by Evan Vucci/AP)
Rather, cheering throngs celebrated MAGA’s complete dominance of the Republican Party and Trump’s impending second term.
The incoming president is one of the most divisive individuals in American history, with almost as many fervent critics as impassioned fans, despite his party’s complete but limited control of Congress and a landslide Electoral College victory. Trump may therefore find it challenging to keep his post-election promises to foster bipartisanship and reconcile party divisions.
Despite spending months as a candidate vowing to get revenge on political rivals if elected, Trump has claimed that unity, strength, and fairness will be the guiding themes of his inauguration speech on Monday.
That dominated a large portion of Trump’s rally speech on Sunday, as he played his campaign’s best songs again as though the contest against Vice President Kamala Harris hadn’t already been decided. Trump pledged to eradicate woke policies and reject transgender rights while denouncing migrant crime by using Hannibal Lecter, one of his favorite fictional characters.
The curtain will close on four long years of American decline tomorrow at noon, and we will start a new day of American power and prosperity, dignity and pride, Trump declared. He also added that we will finally put an end to the rule of a corrupt and failed political establishment in Washington.
Kid Rock also played during the occasion, even though it was raining and snowing outside. Their song was All Summer Long. Trump’s favorite song, “God Bless the USA,” was performed by singer Lee Greenwood, among others.
On Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Washington, supporters of President-elect Donald Trump rejoice outside the U.S. Capitol and take photos. (Photo by José Luis Magana/AP)AP
Trump added, “We’re looking forward to making a lot of changes,” as billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk, who has been assigned to assist in leading a special committee to improve the efficiency of the federal government, took the stage. The president-elect is our hero, according to actor Jon Voight, who was appointed by Trump as a special envoy to Hollywood. We Americans never gave up on him, and he never gave up on the American people.
Justice is on the way, according to Stephen Miller, Trump’s choice for deputy chief of staff and a major contributor to the administration’s hard-line immigration policies.
Miller stated that Donald J. Trump is on the verge of saving this nation and that we are going to regain both our democracy and our nation.
Trump ordered most of Monday’s outdoor events to be moved inside due to the anticipated cold temperatures. Officials also practiced his swearing-in on Sunday in the U.S. Capitol’s Rotunda, which can accommodate only 600 people, as opposed to the 250,000+ people who purchased tickets to watch the inauguration from various locations on the Capitol grounds.
At Blair House, the president’s official guest residence across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, Trump also had breakfast in private with Republican senators on Sunday. He then used his social media platform to discuss the U.S. ban on TikTok and the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Today, hostages are beginning to emerge!. Trump wrote.
Before the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Washington, President-elect Donald Trump addresses at a rally. (Photo by Evan Vucci/AP)
A federal ban on TikTok went into effect overnight, preventing millions of users in the United States from seeing videos on the social media site. Although some users were able to access the site again later, the difficulties were caused by a new rule that required ByteDance, the firm’s parent company based in China, to divest for national security reasons.
The business sent a message stating, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,” in an attempt to personally persuade Trump to step in.
Trump then wrote, “I’m requesting that businesses not allow TikTok to remain dark!” In order to reach an agreement to safeguard our national security, he pledged to issue an executive order on Monday to prolong the time before the law’s prohibitions go into force. Although he did not provide many specifics, the president-elect also stated in his letter that he was open to the United States acquiring 50% of TikTok under a joint venture model.
The snow-covered graves at Arlington National Cemetery were another destination for Trump on Sunday. He and Vice President-elect JD Vance, both dressed in dark overcoats and scarlet ties, walked together to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a wreath-laying ceremony that included taps. Trump placed the wreath and then mouthed a thank you.
On Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia, President-elect Donald Trump visits Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery and touches the headstone of Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss. (Photo by Evan Vucci/AP)
Later, the two spoke with relatives of troops killed in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing for almost 30 minutes in Section 60, the cemetery for service personnel slain in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The scene was far different than in August, when two Trump campaign staff membersreportedlyverbally abused and pushed aside a cemetery official who tried to stop them from filming and photographing in Section 60.
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