The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Lawmakers in pledge to boycott Trump ceremony
More than 50 House Democrats say they will not watch inauguration
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration tomorrow will be boycotted by a rising number of Democratic lawmakers.
More than 50 House Democrats have said they will not watch as Mr Trump is sworn in as the 45th US President amid a feud between him and the civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis.
A revered veteran of the 1960s struggle, Mr Lewis sparked controversy on Friday when he called Mr Trump’s victory illegitimate because of Russia’s alleged interference in the election.
Responding on Twitter, the presidentelect attacked the Georgia lawmaker as “all talk, talk, talk – no action or results”, which prompted a wave of outrage from people saying if anyone embodied action, it was the 76-year-old.
Following the spat, dozens of members of Congress announced they will skip the event.
Meanwhile, British actor Andrew Garfield says he believes Mr Trump needs a “big kiss” and a hug. Garfield, 33, who was born in Los Angeles but grew up in the UK, called Republican Mr Trump a “big baby” ahead of the tycoon-turned-politician being sworn in.
Garfield’s latest role sees him star as American combat medic Desmond Doss – a conscientious objector – in Mel Gibson’s Second World War film Hacksaw Ridge.
Speaking at a screening of the film at the Picturehouse Central in London yesterday, the Bafta-nominated actor said: “I think everyone needs to give him a big kiss so maybe he’ll calm the f*** down.
“Maybe he’ll realise that he’s just enough as he is. He doesn’t have to go conquer the world and be a fascist dictator. I think all fascist dictators need a big kiss from everybody, a big hug.
“Maybe in the course of the next four years we can soothe him like the big baby that he is,” he added.
As the Trumps prepare for the inauguration, designers Karl Lagerfeld and Ralph Lauren have been linked with dressing Mr Trump’s wife Melania.
Several other designers have said they would be happy for Mrs Trump to wear their clothes at the event.
But many have taken the opposite stance, with the likes of Tom Ford, Sophie Theallet and Marc Jacobs refusing to do so.
As Trump takes the Oath of Office to become the 45th president of the United States, Mrs Trump will take up her position as First Lady, and with that comes a large responsibility in terms of fashion.
Like her predecessor Michelle Obama, her choices will carry a great weight of importance and the fashion world will scrutinise her every move.
Mrs Obama made New York-based Canadian designer Jason Wu a household name when she wore one of his designs at her husband Barack Obama’s inauguration ball in 2009, a move she repeated at his second inauguration in 2013.
During her time in the White House she largely championed young American designers such as Thakoon, Prabal Gurung and Brandon Maxwell.