Upon taking the stage at his inaugural parade in Washington, Donald Trump wasted no time in fulfilling his promise that ‘now the work begins’ by promptly signing executive orders.
‘You are now witnessing the dawn of the golden age of America,’ he declared to great applause.
Rather than a traditional rally, Trump transformed the event at a downtown Washington arena into a platform for signing executive actions that will bring about significant policy changes under his new administration.
He told the crowd actions were coming on retaining federal documents and pardoning the people charged in the riot on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Some of the orders he signed first including a Biden border bill, a regulatory freeze and a freeze on federal hiring.
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.
At times the military band played and during another moment people tried to get the wave going and snacked on concession stand foods.
Donald Trump announced that ‘now the work begins’ as he took the stage at his inaugural parade in Washington
Among the attendees at the inauguration parade were families of hostages from Israel, some of whom still have family members in captivity while others mourned loved ones who had passed away.
Ivanka Trump gestures when she arrives at Capital One Arena after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in
Melania Trump arrives and greets the crowd at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade
Kai Madison Trump, the president’s eldest grandchild, waves to the crowd
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.
Barron Trump waving briefly to the crowd as he face appeared on the big screen above him. 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.
Trump and the first lady along with Vice President Vance and his family all entered the arena through the crowd.
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.
Families of hostages from Israel attended the inauguration parade, including several with family members still in captivity and others whose loved ones have died.
The family members took the stage, lining up to shake hands with Trump.
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.
JD Vance received a warm welcome as he arrived with his wife Usha and young children
The president’s youngest son was greeted to cheers of ‘Barron, Barron, Barron’ by the adoring crowd inside the Capital One Arena
Melania Trump greets audience members at the Presidential Parade
Barron Trump gestures to the crowd as he received a raucous welcome
The newly inaugurated president and vice-president greet well-wishers, while JD Vance’s son looks less than impressed
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eric Trump and Lara Trump attend a rally on the inauguration day for U.S. President Donald Trump’s second Presidential term
Trump fans were decked out in a lot of red MAGA hats and other Trump branded apparel
A number of people wore star-spangle suits and American flag adorned outfits. They waved Trump signs and American flags despite the cold air pumping through the room
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.’
Trump’s swearing in was broadcast to the Capital One Arena
MAGA fans gathered
More MAGA fans gathered to cheer on Trump and Vance
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.
