by Maddie Parise
A crowd gathered in Washington D.C. this past Friday to witness the transition of power from one U.S. president to another.
Although ceremonies like this occur every four years, there was a notably smaller crowd in attendance for President Donald Trump’s inauguration than President Barack Obama’s inaugurations.
According to Washington D.C’s Metro transit service, there were a total of 193,000 rides on this Inauguration Day, “less than half the 513,000 […] counted in 2009 and far fewer than the 317,000 […] for Obama’s second inauguration, in 2013,” CNN reported.
Aside from the estimated crowd size at the event, criminal activity was also a key characteristic of Trump’s inauguration.
ABC News reported that, according to District of Columbia Police Chief Peter Newsham, “217 people had been arrested and charged with rioting,” in the capitol on Inauguration Day.
An estimated 500 rioters allegedly caused damage to area businesses as well as committed vandalism and fire-related offenses. USA Today reported that “6 officers were injured during the inauguration protests.”
During the speech of the new president, there was significant talk of improving the U.S. in an economic sense.
“We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon,” Trump said.
He then detailed the impoverished aftermath of the Great Recession of the late 2000s and promised that during his term, “Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.”
Other commitments Trump made included protecting U.S borders from “the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs,” as well as improving national transportation and eradicating “radical Islamic terrorism [… ] completely from the face of the Earth.”
Along with these promises, Trump stressed his pride in returning the power of the U.S. government back to the people and away from “a small group in our nation’s capital.”
Trump then touched on the distrust many Americans have with politicians, and addressed his plans to “no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action — constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.”
Trump’s speech marked the beginning of his administration, one that was elected on the foundation of blue-collar frustration.
“We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams,” Trump said to the audience.
Trump addressed race in his speech as well, a topic that has earned the former “The Apprentice” host much criticism.
“Whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots,” Trump said. “We all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.”
He also noted that, when united, “America is totally unstoppable.”
The 45th president of the United States of America closed his speech with the campaign slogan he won with. “…Together, we will make America great again,” he said. “God bless you. And God bless America.”
