President Donald Trump announced the start of his new administration at his inaugural parade in Washington by signing an executive order to reverse previous actions taken by former President Biden.
‘You are now witnessing the dawn of the golden age of America,’ he declared to great applause. ‘We’re not going to put up with that crap anymore.’
During a rally at a downtown Washington arena, Trump wasted no time in making significant policy changes by signing multiple executive actions.
He also mentioned plans to issue pardons at the White House, hinting at the potential release of individuals convicted in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Trump officially halted 78 Biden-era executive orders, announced a regulatory freeze preventing bureaucrats from issuing regulations until the Trump administration has full control of the government and a freeze on all federal hiring except for military and a few other essential areas.
He also ordered a requirement that federal workers return to full-time in-person work, a directive to every department and agency to address the cost of living crisis, and announced withdrawal from the Paris climate treaty.
Trump also signed a government order restoring freedom of speech and preventing censorship of free speech and one ending the ‘weaponization of government against the political adversaries of the previous administration’
Some of the orders he signed first including a Biden border bill, a regulatory freeze and a freeze on federal hiring.Â
The setup included a small desk, chair and microphone, where Trump was sitting to attach his signature to official actions.
He showed off his signature as he signs an initial round of executive orders before tossing the pens into the crowd.Â
Trump declared at his indoor parade that he will sign pardons for ‘a lot of people’ who were convicted for the attack on the U.S. Capitol as the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
‘We won, we won, but now the work begins,’ Trump said to start his remarks at the end of the parade in the packed Capitol One Arena in Washington, DC.
The president during his wide-ranging remarks also attacked special counsel Jack Smith and complained about being investigated.
The president mentioned that Biden pardoned his family members on Monday, one of his final acts as president. The crowd booed as the president said it happened while Trump was making his speech at the U.S. Capitol.
‘Has anyone ever heard of Kamala?’ Trump also said as he relived his 2024 election victory before the crowd of supporters.
Trump was introduced at event by special envoy Steve Witkoff after a touching moment where he shook hands with the families of hostages taken from Israel during the attack on October 7, 2023.
During his address, Trump went into graphic detail about the carnage of the attack on Israel and repeated it shouldn’t ever have happened multiple times as he rambled.
The president went on to thank the crowd who came to witness the parade and praised those participating.
‘You’re witnessing the dawn of the golden age of America,’ Trump said to the still packed room.
He also specifically thanked members of his family including the first lady, his children and grandchildren.Â
Son Barron Trump received perhaps the loudest applause of the group as his dad mentioned how tall he is.
Eric Trump raised his fist as the crowd chanted his name, and Ivanka Trump blew kisses.
Kai Trump, the president’s eldest grandchild and daughter of Donald Jr., also waved to the crowd. Â
Trump and the first lady along with Vice President Vance and his family all entered the arena through the crowd.Â
At times the military band played and during another moment people tried to get the wave going and snacked on concession stand foods.
The announcer acknowledged that the format was different for a parade from what people are used to.
Trump’s family members filed into the room and stood in the first row of a three-row viewing box behind the stage as people clapped.
The family members took the stage, lining up to shake hands with Trump.
A few individuals along the aisle got to greet the president directly as he entered the room.
The president announced intentions to immediately sign pardons for those imprisoned from January 6, work on bringing back Israeli hostages and several other policy priorities.Â
Families of hostages from Israel attended the inauguration parade, including several with family members still in captivity and others whose loved ones have died.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s appointee for special envoy for peace in the Middle East, kicked off the speaking portion following the parade by celebrating the return of three Israeli hostages Sunday.
‘For the former hostages here today, welcome home,’ Trump said after being introduced by Witkoff.
By the time Trump arrived in the building, the crowd was growing antsy. People who waited hours could be heard shouting ‘we want Trump’ after waiting most of the afternoon while he wrapped up at the U.S. Capitol.
The police and first responders from Butler County, PA started out the parade as they paid homage to Corey Comperatore who was killed in the assassination attempt on Trump in July. Comperatore’s fireman jacket was carried during the parade and a moment of silence was held in his memory.
Others participating it the parade were the New York Military Academy, Palm Beach Police and Fire Rescue, the New York City Police Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the Florida Firefighters Pipes and Drums and the Middletown, Ohio high school marching band, which all marched in a loop around the arena floor.
Vance graduated from Middletown High School in 2003. The community raised more than $140,000 through private donations and grants to send students from Vance’s hometown to Washington.Â
After the inauguration was moved inside, supporters who traveled to Washington, D.C., from all over the country waited in line starting the night before to get into the Capital One Arena.Â
The arena hosted a viewing party for Trump’s swearing in ceremony before he made his way to the event to kick off the official Inaugural parade Monday afternoon.
Inside the arena, Trump fans were decked out in a sea of red MAGA hats and other Trump branded apparel.Â
A number of people wore star-spangle suits and American flag adorned outfits, waving Trump signs and American flags despite the cold air pumping through the room.
During the ceremony, people in the largely packed arena were able to watch the event on the big screens in the center of the room as large red and gold electronic banners displayed the words ’60th Presidential Inauguration’ overhead.
As Trump, the first lady, his family and other MAGA favorites like Pete Hegseth, Elon Musk and Tulsi Gabbard showed up on the screen, the crowd in the just over 20,000 seat arena cheered.
When President Biden, former Secretary Hillary Clinton, other Democrats and former Vice President Mike Pence appeared on the screens, Trump’s supporters booed. For Pence, a man could be heard shouting ‘traitor’ while there were a few chants of ‘lock her up’ for Clinton.
During Trump’s inaugural address, lines about declaring an emergency at the border, only having two genders, the U.S. entering a ‘golden age’ and god saving his life received wild applause.
As the president walked Biden out to depart Washington outside the capitol, people could be heard singing ‘na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.’
When Trump spoke of January 6 during his informal remarks after the ceremony, people at the arena remained in their seats to watch. They laughed at his jokes, booed his critics when their names were mentioned and remained enraptured for the speech that had some of his more popular rally lines.
Peter Navarro, Kellyanne Conway, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other Trump allies were in the arena to warm up the crowd ahead of Trump’s remarks.
Elon Musk also made an appearance saying ‘his is what victory feels like,’ as he dancing onto the stage.
He called it a ‘fork in the road of human civilization’
‘This one really mattered,’ he said of the election and thanked Trump’s supporters for ‘making it happen’
‘It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured,’ Musk said.
He also vowed to ‘take DOGE to Mars.’
During his remarks, the crowd started chanting ‘Elon, Elon.’
He said he is super fired up for the future and would work his a** off for them.
‘Man I cannot wait,’ Musk said of the future.
Navarro praised supporters for waiting in line in the cold Monday morning. He also spoke about going to prison but claimed the people he met in prison never did anything as bad as Dr. Anthony Fauci or Alvin Bragg.
Conway said the Trump sequel is going to be a ‘kicka** better than the original.’ For the event she was wearing the same red, white and blue coat she wore for Trump’s first inauguration.
Congressman Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) spoke about it being the best day ever and vowed Trump is ‘taking it all back.’
Huckabee Sanders said it was surreal to be back in Washington. She said GOP governors have been holding the line until Trump was back in the White House.
Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) called Trump’s inauguration speech the best inauguration speech ever.
‘We did it everybody,’ said conservative activist Charlie Kirk taking the stage to rancorous cheers.
