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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump will spend the day before his inauguration several times in Washington celebrating his return to the force and his “Make America Great Again” movement, as he prepares to return to the White House in a was. deep crisis. National political divisions.
The nation’s capital has prepared in an unprecedented way to ensure the safety of the events taking place, but unlike when Trump helped provoke a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol and attempted to hold on by force in 2021 after his defeat in Democrat Joe Biden’s officials this time do not expect large protests, riots and violence. Instead, the city is preparing to welcome crowds celebrating Trump’s second term and MAGA in general over the Republican Party.
It’s a notable turnaround after Trump left the nation’s capital in shame for four years and missed his successor’s inauguration. Trump fought his way to the Republican Party presidency in 2024, winning the November election with an Electoral College margin not seen since Democrat Barack Obama’s re-election in 2012.
Yet even with that comfortable victory and his party in full, albeit narrow, control of Congress, the incoming president remains one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. history, with nearly as many fierce detractors as ardent supporters.
That means it can be difficult to deliver on post-election commitments to promote bipartisanship while alleviating political differences. He told NBC News on Saturday that unity would be the theme of his inauguration speech Monday at the Capitol, along with force and justice.
“January 20th can’t come soon enough!” Trump also posted this week on his social media site. “Everyone, even those who opposed a victory for President Donald J. Trump and the Trump administration in the first place, simply needs that to happen. ”
National and global events drew some of his attention Sunday as he commented on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the U.S. ban on TikTok.
“Hostages starting to come out today! Three wonderful young women will be first,” Trump wrote on his social media site.
Overnight, millions of American TikTok users could no longer watch videos on the social media platform as a federal ban on the app went into effect. The company posted a message making a private appeal to Trump.
“We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us to fix TikTok once he takes office,” the message read. Trump’s response online: ‘SAVE TIKTOK!'”
Following tradition, Trump spent Saturday night at Blair House, the president’s official apartment on Pennsylvania Avenue, across from the White House. It was delivered there after a party at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles west of the city. , whose fireworks lit up the night sky.
Trump arrived in Washington from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, aboard a C-32, the military variant of the Boeing 757, painted in the iconic presidential powder blue and white color scheme. The aircraft that would be known as Air Force One if the president were aboard carried the president-elect as Special Air Mission 47.
Sunday will be Trump’s first full day back in the capital since the election. It gives him a chance to enjoy the moment and fire up his core supporters before Inauguration Day’s heavy dose of official pomp, including the swearing-in at noon.
Trump planned to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before speaking at a downtown rally at Capital One Arena, home of America’s basketball and hockey teams. Washington.
With frigid temperatures expected Monday, Trump directed his oath of office — now set for the Capitol Rotunda — and most of Monday’s outdoor events be moved indoors. The traditional parade will be held, in some form, at Capital One Arena.
Trump was also scheduled to attend a candlelight dinner on Sunday where he was scheduled to speak.
Biden, in his final full day in office, scheduled a trip to South Carolina, a state that holds special meaning after his commanding win in the 2020 Democratic primary there set him up to achieve his life’s goal of being elected president.
Biden, accompanied by his wife, first daughter Jill Biden, was scheduled to make a stop at a North Charleston church to worship and talk about the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. , the White House said. Monday is also a federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader.
The president used his farewell speech last week to warn of a developing “oligarchy” of ultra-wealthy interests taking over and threatening the country’s very democracy.