Tens of thousands of people traveled to Washington, D.C. to celebrate President Donald J. Trump’s second inauguration Jan. 20.
In the days leading up to Inauguration Day, weather forecasts showed an intense cold front coming through. On Friday, Jan. 17, Donald Trump announced that the ceremony would move indoors, making it the first since Ronald Reagan’s indoor inauguration 40 years ago.
With over 220,000 ticketed guests expected in D.C. for the canceled outdoor inauguration, many decided to brave the cold weather spreading across the city. Thousands of supporters waited in line outside the Capital One Arena in hopes of attending the 60th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony Viewing and Parade.
With a capacity of 20,000, supporters started showing up early to try to secure a seat in the arena. Entrance into the viewing and parade was on a first-come, first-serve basis, and as a result many general admission ticket holders were unable to get in.
Ron and Kathy Sathory, both 75, traveled from Rigby, Idaho, to attend the inauguration ceremony viewing and parade. They arrived outside the Capital One Arena around 7:30 a.m., where they were met with lines of people stretching almost ten blocks. The couple walked around but could not find a way to get in line.
“Even though we’ve got something from the inauguration committee saying that we’re authorized to come, there’s just too many people here from what we can tell,” Ron Sathory said. “We’re going to go back down [the block], look at a couple more people, head to the train station and head back home.”
Because of the heightened security needed for the event, attendees left bags and personal belongings outside the security checkpoint.
Next to those waiting in line was an array of vendors selling a variety of products, including official Trump-endorsed merchandise, counterfeit hats, fake VIP tickets and homemade paintings.
John Brooks, who came to the inauguration from Rhode Island, was set up selling hats, scarves and gloves next to the fast-moving stream of Trump supporters in line. Brooks had started working at 3:00 a.m. that morning. “This is my first inauguration. I love doing this,” he said.
Harry Murphy, president of Suffolk University’s chapter of Turning Point USA and a staff writer for The Suffolk Journal, was also in D.C Jan. 20. The broadcast journalism major and political science minor attended a two-day Youth Leadership School program run by the Leadership Institute.
The Leadership Institute is “a conservative leaning student organization that helps to train students about how to be good at the sport of politics,” Murphy said. “It teaches us all about the values of assembling a grassroots youth movement and using that to win campaigns.”
Murphy got involved with the Leadership Institute through his connection with Turning Point. While his main reason for traveling to D.C. was not for the inauguration, he was glad the program ended up being that weekend.
In the hours before Trump’s inauguration, supporters gathered outside the U.S. Capitol. Most people came in groups and passed the time by talking to friends, family and other supporters.
As the inauguration approached, many watched the live stream on their phones, occasionally looking up to see the towering U.S. Capitol just beyond the large metal fence blocking it.
In the moments after Trump took the oath of office, the thundering bang of cannons performing the 21-gun salute in the distance mixed with the crowd cheering and chanting outside the U.S. Capitol.
After completing the final day of programming for the Youth Leadership School program, Murphy watched the inauguration in the lobby of his hotel with more than 100 other spectators.
For those on the ground in the District of Columbia, the atmosphere was hopeful, with many showing excitement for the future.
“It was great. Everyone there was pretty optimistic about the direction of the country over the next four years,” said Murphy.
Dennis Calin, a 30-year-old resident of D.C., was at the U.S. Capitol with a group of friends during the inauguration. “It’s the most powerful comeback in history. We’re so happy because Trump, he is a man of God. He’s the future of this country for at least three years.”
On his first day in office, President Trump enacted 46 presidential actions, ranging from rescinding 78 executive orders signed by President Biden to securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I would encourage all voters to at least give him a chance,” said Murphy. “Not to say that you shouldn’t criticize him… every politician should have their feet held to the fire to some degree.”
As another page turns in the long and fragile book that is the great American experience, supporters and critics alike are looking to the future, waiting to see what happens next.
