DON OF A NEW DAY
Trump ‘movement’ takes Washington Oath today — then Day 1 vows to keep News says: Hope for the best
Lays wreath in Arlington then bops to the beat
AS HE PREPARES to become the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump on Thursday kicked off a whirlwind inaugural weekend in Washington with a flight on a military jet, a somber visit to Arlington National Cemetery and a pledge to set the nation on a new course.
“I promise you that I will work so hard, we’re going to get it turned around,” Trump told a crowd of thousands at a preinaugural concert staged in front of the Lincoln Memorial. “We’re going to do things that haven’t been done in our country for many, many decades.”
“It’s a movement like we’ve never seen anywhere in the world,” he said.
During the show, the President-elect shimmied in his seat, bobbed his head, and chatted with his wife, Melania, as he was serenaded by the likes of country star Toby Keith, soul singer Sam Moore and rockers 3 Doors Down.
The event was billed as the Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration.
Trump entered the event by marching down the steps next to Lincoln as the Rolling Stones song “Heart of Stone” played over the loudspeakers, a choice that was immediately questioned.
The 1965 hit opens with the lines: “There’s been so many girls that I’ve known/ I’ve made so many cry, and still I wonder why/ Here comes a little girl/ I see her walking down the street/ She’s all by herself, I try to knock her off her feet.”
During his campaign, at least a dozen women accused Trump of sexual assault, which he has denied. Thousands cheered Trump as he turned and saluted the statue of the 16th President before giving the crowd a thumbs-up.
The crowds joined the soonto-be First Family, packing either side of the memorial’s Reflecting Pool at the center of the National Mall, to take in the concert and fireworks display.
The crowd sent up a cheer when the giant screens flashed video of Trump singing along as Lee Greenwood delivered his signature song, “God Bless the USA.”
Trump supporter Dan Streuber came up from Atlanta with his two boys for the festivities. He said he hopes Trump will tone down his rhetoric a bit and follow through on his campaign promises.
“All I ask the President-elect is just do what you said you were going to do,” he said. “I really thought his speech Election Night sounded very presidential. The election’s over, it’s in all of our best interests to pull together as a country.”
The festivities and fireworks
capped a long day of transitioning for the billionaire that began with a flight on a Boeing 757, part of the fleet of military planes that become Air Force One whenever the President is aboard. The incoming commander-inchief began the day already well-immersed in the trappings of the presidency. After landing, Trump gave a salute to the Air Force officer who welcomed him at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. As the city put the finishing touches on preparations for the inauguration Friday, Trump made his first of several stops in the nation’s capital: a luncheon in a ballroom at his new namesake hotel, where he touted his cabinet nominees.
“We have by far the highest IQ of any cabinet ever,” Trump said, smiling.
Trump made sure to work in a plug for his hotel, too, calling the luxury lodging “a gorgeous room.” The future First Lady also spoke. “Tomorrow we’re starting the work,” Melania Trump said, adding that “there’s a lot of possibility and a lot to take care of.”
Trump fans in red “Make America Great Again” hats and USA scarves were seen walking around Capitol Hill, chatting excitedly about Friday’s speech, while protesters clad in pink knit hats wandered in tightly bunched groups and gathered at the White House to cheer the outgoing First Family.
A lone bagpiper played on the steps of Congress.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence, in a tweet, called inauguration eve “a momentous day before a historic day.”
Trump and Pence later headed to Arlington National Cemetery.
The two men stood at attention and a bugler played taps at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, as Trump’s children and grandchildren silently looked on.
From there, Trump was off to the National Mall for the evening’s celebrations. “This is some day, dear friends,” actor Jon Voight told the crowd before implying that Trump’s election was an act of divine intervention.
“He certainly didn’t need this job and yes, God answered all our prayers,” he added.
Trump declared such a concert had a never been done before — although it’s become a common tradition for incoming Presidents.
Tom Barrack, the chief architect of the inaugural festivities, told the massive crowd gathered at the site that Trump will show the world that “we can argue, we can fight and we can debate,” but then the nation unites behind one President.
Trump recounted his surprising ascent to the most powerful job in the world, and spoke directly to his most ardent supporters.
“So this journey began 18 months ago. I had something to do with it, but you had much more to do with it than I did. I’m the messenger,” he said. “You’re not forgotten anymore. You’re not forgotten anymore.”
After the event, he and his family headed off to a black-tie candlelight dinner in Washington’s Union Station with donors where he again bragged about his election win and his cabinet picks.
The Trumps later retired to Blair House, the presidential guest house.
Protesters took to the streets of D.C. Thursday night, at times clashing with Trump supporters and police.
Trump also spent much of Thursday preparing to deliver his inaugural speech, which incoming Press Secretary Sean Spicer called a “very personal and sincere statement.”
“It will be less of an agenda, and more of a philosophical document,” Spicer said during a press briefing, adding that it will include sections that “discuss what it means to be an American,” points about “infrastructure, education and manufacturing” and an explanation of “where (Trump) sees the country.”
The swearing-in itself, however, will come before the big speech.
Friday will see a long and momentous slate of events set to kick off around 8:30 a.m. with Trump attending a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, down the street from the White House.
Trump, along with Melania, will then have tea at the White House with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, before the foursome ride together to the Capitol for the inauguration.
National security officials will be on high alert, although Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Thursday that there’s “no specific credible threat” against the presidential inauguration.