In the lead-up to his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump is engaging in a series of events in Washington, celebrating his return to office and his “Make America Great Again” initiative, amidst a politically divided climate in the nation. Trump supporters, many traveling from various states and dressed in their finest attire, gathered for both formal and informal gatherings at nearby hotels and restaurants, reveling late into the night. Many could be heard chanting “MAGA” or using it as a way to greet fellow attendees.
The city has taken extensive measures to ensure the safety and security of the events unfolding. Unlike the situation in 2021, when Trump incited a mob to storm the Capitol, officials do not anticipate large protests or troubling unrest. Instead, the atmosphere is expected to be celebratory, with crowds marking Trump’s second term and the Republican Party’s allegiance to the MAGA movement.
Reflecting on the past four years, this marks a significant change as Trump returns to the capital after leaving under controversial circumstances and choosing not to attend Biden’s inauguration. After a successful run through the 2024 GOP primary, Trump’s victory in November’s election was notable, as it represented an Electoral College advantage not seen since Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election.
Despite this decisive win and his party’s control of Congress, Trump remains a deeply polarizing figure, facing strong opposition alongside his dedicated supporters. This dichotomy presents challenges for him as he aims to fulfill his post-election commitments of promoting bipartisanship and addressing political discord. He stated that themes of unity, strength, and fairness will resonate in his inaugural address on Monday.
“January 20th cannot come fast enough!,” Trump expressed on his social media, adding that even those who did not support his presidency are eager for the transition to occur.
On a national and global front, Trump also discussed significant news on his platform, sharing his thoughts on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, while noting the enforcement of a federal ban on TikTok. He tweeted, “Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” referring to the ceasefire situation.
Simultaneously, millions of Americans found themselves unable to access TikTok as a federal prohibition took effect due to national security issues tied to its parent company, ByteDance, based in China. In a bid for intervention, ByteDance expressed hope that Trump would assist in resolving the situation.
In response, Trump urged companies to ensure TikTok remains operational and mentioned plans to issue an executive action on Monday to delay the implementation of the law, thereby allowing time to negotiate security concerns surrounding the app.
The specifics of how Trump might navigate these legal constraints remain unclear. He also suggested a possibility of forming a “joint venture” wherein the U.S. would hold a 50% stake in TikTok, but details of how this would be operationalized were scarce. However, Michael Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, reassured the public that Trump could broker a resolution by the deadline.
“I think we should all be confident that he can craft that kind of a deal,” Waltz remarked, noting that discussions had already occurred between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on this matter.
As part of tradition, Trump spent Saturday night at Blair House, situated across from the White House, where he held a private breakfast gathering with Republican senators. Before arriving at Blair House, he celebrated at his golf club in Virginia, highlighted by a fireworks display.
Traveling back from Mar-a-Lago in Florida on a military variant of Boeing 757, Trump was referred to as Special Air Mission 47. Sunday marked the first full day of Trump’s return to Washington since the election, providing him an opportunity to engage with his supporters as he prepares for the formalities of Inauguration Day.
Among his scheduled activities, Trump intends to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and to participate in a rally at Capital One Arena, home to the city’s basketball and hockey teams. Anticipating cold weather for Monday’s inauguration, he ordered the oath of office and most public events to be held indoors, with the swearing-in now planned for the Capitol Rotunda, while a modified parade will occur at Capital One Arena. Additionally, he is due to attend a candlelight dinner that evening where he is expected to speak.
