WASHINGTON, D.C. — Echoing the anti-establishment and populist rhetoric from his campaign rallies, the 45th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, tore into Washington politicians during his inaugural address from the U.S. Capitol on Friday.
“For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost,” Trump said. “Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth.
Flanked on both sides by representatives and senators, many of whom he sparred with on the campaign trail, Trump peered out onto a sea of cardinal red hats and emphasized that Jan. 20, 2017, marked a transfer of power not only from democrats to republicans but also from politicians to the people.
“The establishment protected itself but not the citizens of our country,” Trump explained as his supporters cheered and applauded. “That all changes starting right here and right now because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you.”
As Trump’s inaugural address continued, he painted a picture of America that was nearly as bleak as the overcast sky above him. He ripped into education, national security, industry outsourcing, crime and America’s infrastructure. At one point Trump referred to the combination of these factors as “American carnage,” seemingly placing the blame for these ailments at the feet of the politicians with whom he will soon be working.
The crowd reveled in Trump’s denouncement of the establishment, giving the day a similar feel to many of his rallies. Applause and chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump” rang throughout the National Mall, but the crowd turned quickly with the introduction of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Booing rumbled throughout the crowd, which CBS News estimated at nearly 1 million attendees. The at-times raucous crowd gave similar responses to U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and during a speech by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles “Chuck” Schumer, D-N.Y. Schumer has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s cabinet selections.
The sparse jeers from the crowd stood in contrast to the general feeling of celebration emanating from the crowd; however, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Mo., tempered the celebration during his Call to Order, reminding the crowd to keep the celebration in perspective.
“So, we come to this place again — commonplace and miraculous — a national moment of celebration, not a celebration of victory, but [it is] a celebration of democracy,” Blunt said.
As expected, pockets of protesters descended on the inaugural parade route during Trump’s inaugural luncheon. Police in full riot gear cleared the pockets and allowed the parade to proceed as planned.
Before the protests could be contained, some of the protesters clashed with Trump’s supporters — each side spewing the divisive rhetoric that pitted democrats and republicans against each other during the campaign. However, some democrats also celebrated at the inauguration. Nick Friot, 34, a democrat from St. Lawrence County, N.Y., stood at the edge of the Capitol lawn and explained his tempered optimism towards a Trump presidency.
“Whether he’s the right choice or the wrong choice, he’s the choice,” Friot said. If he does well we all do well. If he fails then we fail. I pray he’s able to command the ship.”
