WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term in an indoor ceremony at the Capitol, sheltering from the gusts of the winter polar vortex.
But his inauguration still drew supporters to Washington, D.C., to celebrate.
In his second inaugural address on Monday, Trump vowed that his legacy would be as a “peacebuilder and unifier.”
But in the same remarks, the US president outlined some of his most divisive policy proposals, including a harsh crackdown on illegal immigration and “taking back” the Panama Canal.
“Above all, my message to the American people today is that it’s time for us to once again act with the courage, the vitality, the vitality of the greatest civilization in history,” President Trump said. “Therefore, we will liberate our nation and lead it to new heights of victory and success.”
Trump’s Democratic critics have long accused him of being a threat to American democracy, if not an outright fascist.
But there were few demonstrators in Washington on Monday rejecting President Trump’s return to the White House, a sharp contrast to the large demonstrations before, during and after his first inauguration.
Protesters may have been deterred by the indoor inauguration and the freezing cold. Some people may have felt apathy or acceptance of Trump’s return to the White House.
But the weather didn’t cooperate, and supporters of the U.S. president showed up in Make America Great Again (MAGA) gear and lined up several city blocks to get into Capital One Arena. I did it.
On Friday, President Trump’s last-minute decision to move the inauguration ceremony indoors prevented many people from being able to watch it in person. However, as an alternative, an arena was set up and the event was broadcast live. Trump also promised to make a personal appearance afterwards.
Still, thousands of his supporters were left stranded seeking space in the 20,000-seat arena, which has less space than the outdoor National Mall park.
“I started getting respected again.”
Although President Trump has filled his Cabinet with foreign policy hawks, some supporters have emphasized his commitment to promoting world peace.
David Marks, who drove from Orlando, Florida, to attend the inauguration event, praised President Trump’s style of governing by using “common sense” and not relying on bureaucracy.
Marks rode a bicycle carrying a banner with Israeli and Palestinian flags and a peace sign.
“He understands that world peace is in our interest,” he said of President Trump.
Marks was unable to go to the arena, where the inauguration and the president’s speech were broadcast on jumbo screens.
Thousands of others were left outside in the arctic cold despite waiting hours to enter buildings. Many people watched the inauguration on their cellphones instead of waiting in slow-moving lines.
Trump’s inaugural address was marked by attacks on outgoing President Joe Biden, and he promised to aggressively carry out his tough campaign promises.
“America’s Golden Age begins now,” Trump said, quoting a phrase often repeated during the presidential campaign.
“From this day forward, our country will prosper and once again be respected around the world. We will be the envy of all nations and will no longer allow ourselves to be taken advantage of.”
“World peace”
Despite temperatures hovering at -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit), people began lining up before dawn to secure seats at Capital One Arena.
Johnny Estrada, a 28-year-old police officer from New Mexico, said he and a friend made a last-minute decision to fly to the inauguration. He admitted some disappointment about the venue change.
“Unfortunately, things have changed a little bit for us, but we’re here,” said Estrada, wearing a red Trump hat and her fake orange hair peeking out.
“The next four years are going to be really good. For today, I’m just happy to be here.”
He added that he most sympathizes with President Trump’s “America First” promise.
“Personally, I don’t like the way we fund other countries’ wars. I’m a veteran, so that money should go to our country.”
Chicago resident Shay White, who was also not present at the arena, downplayed the crowd’s disappointment over the situation.
“We are Americans no matter where we are,” White said. “There’s so much good energy here.”
There was a fake bloodstain on his face, a reference to the blood spatter that appeared on Trump’s cheek after he survived an assassination attempt in July. White explained that he believes President Trump will help end global conflicts.
“I think there will be less of a war problem. What did Gaza announce a few days ago already? Gaza announced a ceasefire,” White told Al Jazeera.
Earlier this month, President Trump sent his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region to help reach a cease-fire with representatives of Biden.
Several Israeli media outlets reported that Trump’s team pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the deal announced last week.
“A felon with nuclear weapons is coming.”
While supporters in and around the room see Trump as a strong man fighting for peace, the president’s critics fear a different outcome over the next four years.
The National Action Network, led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, held a vigil honoring Martin Luther King Jr. at the Metropolitan AME Church, just a few blocks from the White House.
Many attendees found the irony in the fact that President Trump’s inauguration took place on a holiday named after a black civil rights leader.
“We’re here to talk about Trump and how to protect people,” said Valerie Adeline of New York City, wearing a fur coat and face mask to promote Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. “I came here,” he said. When she came into the church.
“Martin Luther King Jr. brought justice, peace and power,” she added. “We are celebrating his life, which is especially meaningful today.”
Duvall-Clemons, a 70-year-old New York native, internally criticized Trump’s promise to pardon his supporters who ransacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, to overturn Biden’s election victory. did.
President Trump reiterated that promise on Monday, telling supporters: “You’re going to see a lot of action against the J6 hostages.”
Clemons also pointed out that Trump himself was convicted of 34 felonies for falsifying business records related to hush money payments he tried to cover up during the 2016 campaign.
With his conviction in May, Trump became the first person in U.S. history to become president with a criminal record.
“He’s a felon trying to acquire nuclear weapons,” Clemmons said. “He’s a liar and he’s weakening us globally.”
“He’s now talking about forgiving those who stormed the Capitol, when so many people are still feeling the effects.”
“Preparing for the next four years”
About 200 demonstrators also gathered in Meridian Park, a mile north, to denounce President Trump’s promises of mass deportations, support for Israel and attacks on reproductive rights.
Rachel, a 32-year-old art historian from Washington, D.C., said despite the different causes they support, the protesters wanted to send a unified message of “community.”
“This shows that our agendas are not in silos. They are intertwined and connected, and there is strength in working beyond our immediate interests,” says a first-name said Rachel, who chose to be identified only by.
Still, protests surrounding Trump’s inauguration were relatively quiet compared to 2017, when Trump first took office.
The 2017 Women’s March drew an estimated 500,000 people to the U.S. capital, but the latest march, dubbed the “People’s March on Washington,” saw a significantly smaller number of demonstrators on Saturday, but still drew thousands. did.
Amy Burke, a 55-year-old protester from Tampa, Florida, who also participated in the 2017 Women’s March, admitted to feeling generally tired ahead of President Trump’s second term. .
“It’s tough. I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve asked to join me and they’re just tired, exhausted and disappointed,” she said. “They’re trying to get ready for the next four years.”
New policies for the future
Mr. Trump has already made sweeping promises for change, some of which took effect within hours of taking office.
In his inaugural address, President Trump outlined his executive actions on immigration, including declaring a national emergency and deploying the military at the U.S.-Mexico border.
He reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy that forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico before U.S. immigration, designated Mexican drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations,” and declared “all foreign gangs and criminal networks… eliminate the existence of ”.
In one of the first moves under his administration, U.S. officials announced that the CBP One app was shut down and all reservations made through it were cancelled.
CBP One was established in 2020 during the Trump administration, and his successor, Biden, expanded its use to make it a requirement for nearly all asylum seekers arriving at the southern border.
Videos shared on social media showed migrants crying after learning their appointments had been annulled.
Peter Cepeda, a miner from South Texas, was among the supporters who arrived in Washington, D.C., to celebrate President Trump’s inauguration.
He said he expects the president to strengthen border security. Cepeda, himself a Latino immigrant, said security is the main reason immigration is a top priority for him.
“Many people are coming into the country without being vetted,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that he was only supporting immigrants “doing it the right way.”
However, numerous studies have shown that illegal immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens.
President Trump also promised on Monday to take steps to boost the nation’s economy, including directing his Cabinet to “defeat record inflation and rapidly lower costs and prices.”
He also supported increased extraction of fossil fuels and announced widespread deregulation of the energy industry.
President Trump returned to his familiar catchphrase, saying, “We train, baby, we train.”
Overall, Trump’s inaugural address was relatively low-key and policy-focused, similar to his campaign speeches.
Biden’s Farewell
Meanwhile, Biden used his final days in office to issue a flurry of preemptive pardons to people who could be targeted for President Trump’s vowed retaliation.
This included five pardons for his brothers and their spouses.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the immunologist who sparred with President Trump over his response to the coronavirus pandemic, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, who called President Trump a “fascist.” was also granted amnesty.
Mr. Biden also defended members of Congress who were pursuing Mr. Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
After the inauguration, Mr. Biden departed Washington aboard a military aircraft, Special Air Mission 46. In his final words to his former staff, he said: “We’re leaving office, but we’re not leaving the fight.”
President Trump’s presence was immediate at the White House, where he immediately issued a presidential proclamation ordering the American flag to be flown that day.
They had been demoted due to the 30-day mourning period for the late President Jimmy Carter. But President Trump opposed leaving the flag at half-staff for the inauguration.
Under the terms of his proclamation, flags will be lowered back to half-mast at the end of the day.