President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration on January 19, 2025, in Washington.
| Photo Credit: AP
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump used one last rally on the eve of his inauguration to again celebrate his election victory, declaring Sunday “We won” to a crowd celebrating his return to the White House and projecting defiant optimism despite deep national political divisions.
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“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,” Mr. Trump told his supporters, adding, “We not only won a mandate, but we built a new American majority that will lead our country to success for generations to come.”
Supporters filled nearly all of the 20,000-plus-seat Capital One Arena to hear a performance by Kid Rock, who performed “All Summer Long” despite a cold mix of rain and snow falling outside.
Others taking the stage included singer Lee Greenwood, whose “God Bless the USA” was the anthem of Mr. Trump’s reeelection campaign.
“Our hero. A man who never gave up on the American people, and we the people never gave up on him,” actor Jon Voight told the crowd.
Stephen Miller, Mr. Trump’s pick to be deputy chief of staff and a key architect of the administration’s promised hard-line immigration polices, vowed that “justice is coming”.
“We are about to get our country back and our democracy back,” Mr. Miller said, adding, “Donald J. Trump is about to save this country.”
Donald Trump has promised to sign a series of executive actions, including on U.S.-Mexico border policy.
Sunday was his first full day back in Washington and gave the president-elect a chance to energise core supporters before the official pomp of Inauguration Day.
Mr. Trump had breakfast privately with Republican senators at Blair House, the president’s official guest residence, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and later posed for a picture with the 10 Republican female senators and his incoming chief-of-staff, Susie Wiles.
Unlike when Mr. Trump helped spark a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol and tried to retain power in 2021 after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden, officials did not expect massive protests, unrest or violence.
Instead, jubilant crowds celebrated Mr. Trump’s second term and MAGA’s total control of the Republican Party.
Many arrived from around the country and were decked out in their fanciest clothes, including fur coats.
Trump supporters filled parties at hotels and restaurants around Washington. As they moved between the festivities, some could be heard chanting “MAGA” or simply stating it as a greeting to fellow revellers.
The atmosphere was a remarkable turnaround from four years ago, when Mr. Trump left the nation’s capital in disgrace and skipped the inauguration of his successor Biden.
Published – January 20, 2025 05:04 am IST
