On Monday, Donald Trump will officially become the 47th president of the United States. Arriving Saturday evening in Washington, he promised that he would sign a “record” number of presidential decrees once invested. On the agenda: the expulsion of millions of illegal immigrants, the increase in customs duties against Mexican and Canadian neighbors and the Chinese rival, the deregulation of energy and climate, or even the pardons of its supporters of the assault on Capitol four years ago.
So many themes that he should develop again on Sunday during a major meeting, scheduled for 9 p.m. French time. The rally will take place at the Capital One Arena and thousands of people are already waiting along the barriers leading to the venue.
Supporters are dressed in fluorescent yellow ponchos and red caps with the slogan “Make America Great Again” to protect against the rain. One of them, Ron, wears a pin with a photo of Donald Trump taken during his assassination attempt last summer. In it, the billionaire has a bloody face and a raised fist.
“Celebrate the greatest political comeback”
This sixty-year-old traveled more than ten hours from Arizona: “I am here to celebrate the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States. We re-elected the best president. I am ready to wait for hours to see him. He deserves it, he took a bullet for us. I expect him to quickly release the prisoners of January 6 who have been unjustly incarcerated for several years. I want him to close our borders and kick illegal immigrants out of our country.”
The Capital One Arena can accommodate 30,000 people. So not everyone will be able to enter. This attendance allows us to measure the aura of Donald Trump who unleashes the crowds and has nothing to envy of the biggest rockstars in the country.
On Monday, his inauguration day will begin with a mass at Saint-Jean Church in Washington. Then, Donald Trump will go have tea at the White House with the Bidensas tradition dictates. The highlight of the day will then take place at 6 p.m. French time, with the swearing in with his hand on the Bible as well as his inaugural speech.
Guests from the populist far right
Everything will take place inside the Capitol because of the freezing weather, polar winds and that -15°C feeling. The 47th President of the United States will then sign the nominations in the Hall of Presidents. The parade planned after lunch in the streets of Washington has been scaled down because of the cold, and will be less ambitious. Donald Trump will also pass through the Capital One Arena, the large basketball hall, to greet his supporters who have come to watch the inauguration ceremony on a giant screen. And then, the day will end with the traditional balls and concerts. The Village People will perform with their hit YMCA.
As for the guests, Donald Trump broke with tradition by inviting foreign leaders, mainly representatives of the populist far right: Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbàn, his Hungarian counterpart. On the French side, Eric Zemmour and his partner, MEP Sarah Knafo, will be in attendance, as will Marion Maréchal Le Pen.
The leaders of European conservative parties are part of this guest list, such as the British Nigel Farage and the head of the AFD, the German far-right party. Trump also invited his friends from Latin Americanotably the sulphurous Argentine President Javier Milei and the former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro.
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