US President-elect Donald Trump used a final rally on the eve of his inauguration to once again celebrate his election victory, declaring “We won” on Sunday to a crowd celebrating his return to the White House, despite deep national politics divisions exuded defiant optimism.
“Tomorrow at noon the curtain will close on four long years of American decline and we will begin a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” Trump told his supporters, adding: “We won not just a mandate, but buts we have built a new American majority that will prosper our country for generations to come.”
Fans filled nearly the entire 20,000-seat Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. to hear Kid Rock perform All summer longalthough a cold mix of rain and snow was falling outside. Others who took the stage included singer Lee Greenwood, whose God bless the USA was the anthem of Trump’s re-election 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, Trump’s choice for deputy chief of staff and a key architect of the administration’s promised tough immigration policies, promised that “justice is coming.”
“We are about to get our country and our democracy back,” Miller said, adding, “Donald J. Trump is about to save this country.”
Trump has promised to sign a number of executive actions, including on US-Mexico border policy. Sunday was his first full day back in Washington, giving the president-elect a chance to galvanize key supporters before the official pomp of Inauguration Day.
Trump had a private breakfast with Republican senators at Blair House, the president’s official guest residence across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, and later posed for a photo with the 10 Republican senators and his new chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
Unlike when Trump helped ignite a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol and sought to retain power in 2021 after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden, officials did not expect massive protests, riots or violence. Instead, cheering crowds celebrated Trump’s second term and MAGA’s complete control of the Republican Party.
The second inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20 marks the culmination of a two-week series of special national security events. “This has never happened before,” said Matt McCool, the U.S. Secret Service special agent in charge of the Washington field office. “But we are flexible and adaptable. … We will be prepared.”
Many came from all over the country and wore their fanciest clothes, including fur coats. Trump supporters filled parties at hotels and restaurants across Washington. As they moved between celebrations, some could be heard shouting “MAGA” or just saying it as a greeting to other revelers.
The atmosphere was a remarkable turnaround from four years ago, when Trump left the nation’s capital in disgrace and skipped the inauguration of his successor. He fought his way through the 2024 Republican presidential primary, winning in November with an Electoral College margin not seen since Barack Obama’s re-election in 2012.
But even with this comfortable victory and his party’s complete – albeit narrow – control of Congress, the new president is one of the most polarizing figures in US history, with almost as many fierce critics as ardent supporters. That means it could be difficult for Trump to keep his post-election promises to promote bipartisanship while resolving policy differences.
He has insisted that unity will be a theme alongside strength and fairness in his inaugural speech on Monday, but he also spent months as a candidate saying he would seek retaliation against political enemies if elected.
“January 20th can’t come fast enough!” Trump posted on his social media page. “Everyone, including those who originally opposed a victory for President Donald J. Trump and the Trump administration, just want it to happen.”
With frigid temperatures expected on Monday, Trump ordered most outdoor events moved indoors on Monday and officials held a rehearsal for his swearing-in in the US Capitol Rotunda on Sunday, which compared to the Of the over 250,000 guests that took place, only 600 people were offered tickets for the inauguration around the Capitol grounds.
