Washington, DC – President Donald Trump of the United States was inaugurated for a second term at an indoor ceremony at the Capitol, shielded from the wintry winds of a polar vortex. Despite this, supporters gathered in Washington, DC to celebrate. In his second inaugural address on Monday, Trump vowed to be remembered as a “peacemaker and unifier”, while also outlining divisive policy proposals such as a crackdown on irregular immigration and reclaiming the Panama Canal. Trump’s Democratic critics have accused him of being a threat to democracy, but there were fewer protesters in Washington on Monday compared to his first inauguration. Some may have been deterred by the indoor ceremony or the cold weather, while others may have felt apathy or acceptance towards Trump’s return to the White House. Vice President JD Vance was also sworn in at the US Capitol Rotunda on January 20.
The weather did not stop Trump’s supporters from showing up in their MAGA gear and lining up outside the Capital One Arena to watch the inauguration on jumbo screens. Many were left waiting outside in the cold, watching the ceremony on their phones. Trump’s speech included jabs at outgoing President Joe Biden and promises to fulfill his campaign pledges. Supporters praised Trump’s commitment to global peace, despite his hawkish foreign policy cabinet. Some expressed disappointment at the venue change, but remained optimistic about the next four years under Trump’s leadership.
Critics of Trump gathered at the Metropolitan AME Church to honour Martin Luther King Jr. on the national holiday, expressing concerns about Trump’s pardoning of Capitol rioters and his criminal record. At Meridian Park, protesters voiced opposition to Trump’s policies on deportation, support for Israel, and reproductive rights, emphasizing unity and strength in their causes. The protest movement surrounding Trump’s second inauguration was quieter compared to his first term in 2017, but still drew thousands of participants.