Leftist opponents of President Donald Trump had reportedly planned to protest his inauguration on Monday, conjuring up memories of the civil unrest that occurred in Washington, D.C. when he was first sworn into to office in 2017. However, the anti-Trump crowds were left demoralized with a relatively low turnout and no energy behind the resistance.
According to reports, the Act Now Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition and the People’s Forum, groups that orchestrated anti-Israel protests last year, planned events surrounding Inauguration Day. Local authorities were expecting approximately 10,000 to show up across the city in protest of President Trump. However, reports on the ground demonstrated that this did not pan out.
The Daily Caller News Foundation brought on-site coverage of the pushback against Trump’s inauguration where they found only dozens of people gathered. It appears that many were deterred by the frigid temperatures and the fact that the rally was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda. “We are here on a day that is so cold that they decided to put the inauguration indoors,” one person at the rally said. “But for us, we’re saying that we will be here no matter what, no matter how cold it is!”
The outlet discovered one protestor in Malcolm X Park who displayed a guillotine, drawing from violent imagery associated with the the French Revolution. The structure was lathered in fake blood with the phrase “come get sum” written on it. Others espoused pro-Palestine sentiments with some depicting Trump as a racist.
Regardless, the counter-protesting toward the president was sparse and lacked energy, starkly contrasting what was seen at the nation’s capitol in 2017. As Trump entered office for the first time, police fought with aggressive protests amid intense destruction and vandalism across the city. Tear gas had to be deployed and hundreds of arrests were made.
This year, there appeared to be far more Trump supporters, donning their distinct red MAGA hats and other pro-Trump merchandise, drowning out the leftist resistance. In some instances, Trump supporters even mocked the liberal protestors, where one man chanted, “No one cares!” at a group standing near the event. Many of the president’s supporters took to the capitol in celebration of Trump’s return, showing a palpable energy behind the MAGA movement.
During his inauguration, Trump highlighted his agenda that he seeks to implement over the next four years. “The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation. And we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer,” he said.
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The president continued, “During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud and prosperous and free.”
Watch protestors and MAGA Republicans harass each other at the capitol below: