Backers from blue California find validation among fellow partisans
WASHINGTON — For supporters of President Trump, like William Keshishyan, who live in blue states like California, there was a special kind of vindication in standing on the Capitol’s west lawn watching him take the oath of office Friday.
There weren’t many vocal Trump supporters at the University of Southern California, where Keshishyan is studying real estate development. Or in California for that matter, where 61 percent of voters backed Hillary Clinton in November. Repping Trump in Los Angeles meant fielding “a lot of grudges, a lot of people rolling their eyes at you, say-
ing ‘What are you doing?’ ”
But despite the drizzly 38degree day Friday, Keshishyan felt uplifted as he looked around him at people wearing red “Make America Great Again” caps. “It was very reassuring. It felt kind of like I felt on Nov. 8, except with a lot more people,” Keshishyan said.
Aside from greeting Trump with chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!,” the people on the west lawn watching Trump become the nation’s 45th president didn’t sound much like the folks who attended his raucous campaign rallies. Instead, they gave off a more reverential vibe.
True, there were scattered boos during Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s speech — and chants of “Heyyay-yay, Good-bye!” when they felt the New Yorker was going on a bit long for a Democrat at a Republican inaugural. There were also boos when images of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders flashed on the big screens that flanked the main stage. But the Obamas received polite applause when announced.
But there was stone-cold silence when Trump took the oath.
“It was almost like being in church there,” said Janette Reynolds, a part-time San Franciscan who watched from a seated area. “It felt very stoic, instead of people yelling, ‘Trump! Trump! Trump!’ ” as they do at rallies.
Reynolds hopes that more measured tone will continue, and tamp down some of the lingering harsh feelings from one of the most divisive campaigns in recent memory. Several of her Facebook friends have unfriended her in recent months after learning of her support for the president.
Living in San Francisco, “I have lots of liberal friends. I may disagree with them over politics, but I wouldn’t end our friendship over that.”
The crowd paid rapt attention. Trump’s more populist, isolationist lines — “From this moment on, it’s going to be America First” — got the loudest applause. And many appreciated how he framed his speech early by saying, “We are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people.”
“That really hit it right there. We’re taking back our political system,” said James Wright, a truck driver from Philadelphia, “where a lot of my friends are Democrats.” Wright said he occasionally votes for Democrats, but like the majority of Pennsylvania voters who backed Trump, he felt the wealthy real estate developer spoke to his frustration with government.
It wasn’t all about the ceremony, though.
Friday was especially rewarding for West Walker, a
59-year-old Tracy middleschool teacher who was one of the earliest grassroots organizers for Trump in California. Walker said that many Trump supporters initially didn’t want to express their support for the candidate on social media, fearful of the repercussions at work or in their communities.
“So we formed a private Facebook group,” he said Friday, “where people felt they could talk freely.” The group bloomed to more than 30,000 people talking online and became the core of Trump’s support in California.
“Seeing all those like-minded people standing together today felt amazing,” said Walker, who is the chairman of Californians for Trump, a group organized largely through social media channels.
It was also about 48 hours of partying for many who came to Washington. More than 100 Californians partied at the All American Ball Thursday night, and a similar number were headed to the Freedom Ball Friday to revel in Trump’s victory. They will be joined by Trump supporters from other blue states, who described similar feelings of redemption Friday, a moment when their faith in the most unpopular major party presidential candidate in modern history was rewarded. “I work in Brooklyn — Brooklyn — and nobody there (where Clinton had her campaign headquarters) was for Trump,” said Mary Polanco, a 44-year-old police sergeant who lives in Queens. “I can’t wear my Trump stuff around anywhere. But, as we were driving down here today, I was getting excited about being here. About being around all of these other people.”
Anita Gallegos and Armando Sanchez of New Mexico noticed few other brown or black faces in the crowd Friday.
“Our friends kept asking us: ‘Why are you going to that thing?’ ” said Sanchez, who voted for the Libertarian candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, in the presidential race. He shrugged. “Going to an inauguration was kind of a bucket list thing for me,” he said.
Gallegos was somewhat encouraged that Trump sounded more somber Friday.
“He didn’t say as many crazy things as he usually does,” she said. “We’ll see if he keeps that up. I hope he does.”
Dale Raines, an African American Trump supporter from Miami, said more blacks will start supporting Trump “once he starts bringing jobs to the inner city. Then they’ll come around.”
In contrast to the good feelings floating around the Capitol, the vibe wasn’t as mellow across the rest of Washington, as protests sparked among the estimated 200,000 anti-Trump activists in town. Washington police said 217 people were arrested and accused of rioting, and six officers suffered minor injuries. Anti-Trump activists held signs calling him a fascist and a racist, while others carried around giant cardboard hands extending the middle finger.
Near 13th and K streets, which was near some of the confrontations between police and demonstrators, a vendor sold Trump shirts at deep discounts to the demonstrators, who lit them on fire in the middle of the street.
“Two for $15,” the vendor shouted. “They’re cheap to burn.”
Nearby, Berkeley resident Heather Grey watched her fellow demonstrators swirl around her. She traveled to Washington to show her support for the Affordable Care Act, which enabled her to keep her health insurance even after she lost the job she held for 30 years.
“It’s empowering,” she said, “to be around all of these people.”
A few blocks away in McPherson Square where several hundred activists were gathering to listen to music and speakers, Megan Meyer held a sign that read “#Woke #Peace #Hindsight2020.”
She traveled from Kentucky, taking time off from her floor refurbishing business, to figure out what to do next. It’s hard for her to have faith because “I don’t believe Trump will address our environmental issues, he appointed a billionaire Cabinet.”
So what happens on Monday?
“So we all have to come together — Black Lives Matter, environmental people, everybody,” she said, “and figure out the next step together,” she said.