By New York Post (Politics) | Created at 2025-01-19 22:06:07 | Updated at 2025-01-20 05:29:38
7 hours ago
President-elect Donald Trump held a massive rally in DC Sunday, mere hours before taking the oath of office as the 47th US president.
Throngs of supporters jammed the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena downtown for the “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” on inauguration eve.
Many waited in line for hours outside the arena, braving near-freezing temperatures so they could get a good seat for the final rally before the new administration begins.
“We just came here to celebrate,” said Ying Tan, 34, of New York City.
Tan said she’s been involved with the Asians for Trump movement since 2020, and was part of a group that volunteered in Pennsylvania ahead of the 2024 election.
“We want to put America first because right now, they put all the resources to the migrants,” she said, arguing veterans and homeless American citizens should be the ones getting help.
“We want to have a president to put the resources back to our people,” she said. “We have to put our own first,” she said.
Others trekked cross-country for the occasion.
“I’m looking forward to hearing his speech and talking about how he wants to implement change,” said Lorenzo Alvarado, who traveled from Fresno, California.
He hoped to be there for Monday’s swearing-in ceremony before it was moved indoors due to the frigid weather, but took the disappointment in stride.
“It is what it is,” Alvarado, 45, told The Post. “Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, we’re going to be there.”
As for the issues he hopes to see Trump tackle first, Alvarado also cited the southern border.
“Unfortunately, taxpayers are having to pay for [illegal immigrants] … our crime rate is skyrocketing … so definitely looking forward to getting the border closed,” he said.
Mike Poole, of Palestine, Texas, was lined up outside Capital One Arena since 9:30 Sunday morning with his wife, Shonda — the first Trump rally the couple has attended.
He said Trump’s second ascent to the presidency represented a political vibe shift.
“You can see if you think about Zuckerberg, Bezos and all these guys going to Mar-a-Largo … it’s nice to see that these guys are starting to follow what the population wants.”
Poole, 57, also said he believes Trump is a changed man since his first term, and shared what he hoped would be different the second time around.
“He’s more down to earth at this point. Hopefully he’s going to stay off of the Twitter feed and just not be as … rude.”
The Pooles weren’t the only Texans who made the pilgrimage to DC.
Diana Young and Denise Ballew both drove up to DC from the Lone Star State to show their suport.
“We are thrilled to have Donald Trump back in office. We’re returning back to American values, we’re turning back to our constitution,” Young said.
Adam Anderson, a Trump supporter from Pittsburgh who waited in line since 9 a.m., said he noticed a shift in Trump’s base of support.
“It seems a bit broader now,” he observed, noting that he hopes to see “good fiscal policy” in the second Trump term.
Inside the arena, a festival-like atmosphere took over the crowd as they danced, cheered and rocked out to on-stage performers including Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood and The Village People.
The rally is part of a weekend of festivities including inaugural balls, a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and a star-studded fireworks display from Trump National Golf Club in Virginia.
Trump’s inauguration is a historic event in a number of ways, including marking the first time a commander-in-chief has served nonconsecutive terms in nearly 140 years.
Grover Cleveland served as the nation’s 22nd and 24th president, from 1885 to 1889 and then from 1893 to 1897.
It will also be the first time a president has taken the oath of office inside the US Capitol Rotunda in 40 years, as a cold snap set to grip the nation’s capital Monday forced the ceremony indoors.
