Washington is set to roll out the red carpet for President-elect Trump.
In 2017, Trump felt like an outsider setting up shop in the nation’s capital. The upset winner of the presidential election that year failed to win the popular vote, and faced hostility from the media and business and political classes.
This year’s festivities, after Trump won the popular vote in an election where he often felt like the favorite, feels more like a triumphant return for Trump and his allies, especially as forces from the media and U.S. business look to start fresh with the incoming administration.
“In 2016, when we won, there was immediate questioning of the legitimacy of the win. There was immediate resistance among the media, even some in our own party. This time there was a welcoming. People are falling all over themselves to give him donations to his inaugural,” said Sean Spicer, who served as Trump’s first White House press secretary.
Numerous galas are planned to mark the impending start of Trump’s second term.
Trump himself will speak at a “victory rally” on Sunday at Capital One Arena in downtown D.C. Monday’s inauguration ceremonies were moved indoors because of forecasts for bitter cold, but thousands of supporters are expected to flock to Washington.
A slew of companies have donated millions to Trump’s inaugural fund for a seat at the table with the incoming administration, and billionaires Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, who battled with Trump during his first term, will be seated on stage at the inauguration.
The fierce Democratic resistance in 2017 has given way to some lawmakers proclaiming they will work with Trump where they can.
“I think the first day it’s going to be fascinating what the tone and tenor is,” Spicer added. “He really has much more — a swagger and a confidence that I don’t think necessarily existed in 2016.”
In 2017, dozens of Democrats boycotted Trump’s inauguration. Companies largely avoided contributing to his inaugural fund, and the inauguration itself had lower attendance than previous proceedings, irking Trump.
This time around, he’s getting a much warmer reception, even as figures such as former first lady Michelle Obama and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) plan to skip Monday’s ceremonies.
Numerous major companies have given at least $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, including Google, Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon and Ford Motor Company.
Several CEOs have traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump, eager to get on his good side and get a foothold in the incoming administration. A slew of Big Tech corporate leaders will be given prime seats for Trump’s swearing-in, including Zuckerberg, Bezos and the CEOs of Google, TikTok and Apple. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a top Trump ally, will also be in attendance.
Zuckerberg is co-hosting a reception for donors Monday night in Washington. The first-ever “Crypto Ball” will take place Friday, a nod to the Trump administration’s expected embrace of the cryptocurrency industry. And high-profile musicians will perform at Trump’s inaugural events, including Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and the Village People.
On Sunday, a “victory rally” was held at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., featuring high-profile speakers and musical performances from Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Democratic leaders have also signaled a greater acceptance of Trump, starting with the host city for his inauguration.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser met with Trump in late December to discuss their “shared priorities for the President’s second term.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and has expressed a willingness to meet with controversial nominees for Trump’s Cabinet and to support the incoming administration’s agenda if it benefits Pennsylvania.
In a symbolic image of Trump’s growing acceptance in parts of Washington, the president-elect had an extended friendly conversation with former President Obama during a state funeral for the late President Carter. The two men could be seen conversing, with Obama laughing.
“I think when you look at establishment D.C., they recognize what a disaster Joe Biden was, so they’re wailing to roll out the red carpet for Trump,” said one Republican strategist with ties to Trump’s orbit.
The strategist suggested that Trump’s immediate lame-duck status, having already served one term, may also make some of his critics more inclined to accept him this time around.
“Because he can’t seek a second term, they’re not going to throw out a ton of road blocks,” the strategist said.
Monday’s inauguration may not look exactly how Trump envisioned, particularly as someone who fixates on crowd sizes and infamously fumed over images of the National Mall during his first inauguration.
The swearing-in will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda, marking the first indoor inauguration since former President Reagan’s in 1985. While elected officials and dignitaries cram into the Capitol, supporters will be able to view the event from Capital One Arena. Trump will head to the arena Monday afternoon for an altered, indoor version of the traditional presidential parade.
“Everyone will be safe, everyone will be happy, and we will, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump posted Friday on Truth Social.
