Celebration and Chaos are Themes of the Day
Sarah Toy and Vaishnavee Sharma
BU News Service
Washington — Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States on Friday after an unprecedented and controversial presidential campaign and election that exposed deep fissures in the American electorate.
After being sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump delivered a speech that struck populist notes and set the tone for his presidency.
“We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action,” he said. “The time for empty talk is over. Now is the hour of action.”
Trump’s address, delivered from the west front of the U.S. Capitol, had echoes of his campaign speeches; he reinforced his pledge to fight “radical Islamic terrorism,” lamented American loss of jobs to foreign countries, and promised to “make America wealthy again.”
A spectator waits for the inauguration ceremony to begin on the National Mall, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
(From left) Meal Davidson, Alyssa Potter, Kelly Burbon, Courtney Nelson, and Courtney Gosse, all students at Catholic University of America, wait for the inauguration ceremony to begin on the National Mall, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
(From left) Davvie Lemons, of Candor, NC, Karen Robertson, of Eden, NC, and and Holly Beamon, of Troy, NC, react as they see Donald Trump on a television screen on the National Mall, before the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
A spectator waits for the inauguration ceremony to begin on the National Mall, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
Latifa Agusta, of Florida, laughs after taking a photo with Robert Burck (left), who says he has been a naked cowboy in New York City for 20 years, on the National Mall before the inauguration ceremony, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
A Donald Trump supporter holds an American flag on the National Mall during the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
A woman takes a selfie in front of a protester on the National Mall before the inauguration ceremony, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
Christine Hahn holds a sign in protest during the inauguration at the National Mall, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
Anthony Messina decked out before the inauguration ceremony begins on the National Mall, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
Joann Spotted Horse protests the inauguration as people leave the National Mall at the end of Donald Trump’s remarks on Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
Riot police create a barricade in front of protesters during an anti-Trump demonstration in Downtown Washington, D.C. after the Inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017.
A Donald Trump supporter gestures to his hat in front of riot police during an anti-Trump demonstration in Downtown Washington, D.C., after the Inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
A protester faces riot police during an anti-Trump demonstration in Downtown Washington, D.C., after the Inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
A protester stands in front of riot police during an anti-Trump demonstration in Downtown Washington, D.C., after the Inauguration, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Alexandra Wimley/BU News Service
A protester, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, carries a sign and poses for photos. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
A protester sits in the street with raised hands at the Disrupt J20 protest on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
A protester folds his hands in front of the police as teargas rises in the background. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
Protesters sit in the streets with raised hands as police use teargas and instruct them to move off the streets. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
A protester folds his hands in front of the police as teargas rises in the background. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
A protester burns the American flag at the Disrupt J20 protest on Friday,Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
Black Lives Matter protesters chain themselves together to demonstrate against Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. after the Inauguration, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/BU News Service
Govan Rodriquez (center) and Gloria Mendoza (left) protest against Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. after the Inauguration, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/BU News Service
A man protests against Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. after the Inauguration, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/BU News Service
Sherry Wolf (left) argues with “Gays for Trump” in Washington, D.C. after the Inauguration, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Sarah Silbiger/BU News Service
Protesters involved with Disrupt J20 met at Columbus Square in Washington D.C. to march against the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Brynne Quinlan/BU News Service.
A protester moves ahead of the rest of the march bearing an American Flag and map of the world in Washington D.C. Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Brynne Quinlan/BU News Service.
A protester lights an American flag on fire in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Brynne Quinlan/BU News Service.
A protester perches on the hood of a vandalized limosine in Franklin Park Washington D.C., Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Brynne Quinlan/BU News Service.
A protester uses stolen “Make America Great Again” hats to accelerate a trash bin fire he started in Franklin Park, Washington D.C. Jan. 20, 2017
Riot Police line up facing protesters on 13th st. after several confrontations in Washington D.C., on Jan. 20, 2017.
Police reattach caution tame to a car door after protesters broke through and flooded a small park in Washington D.C., Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Brynne Quinlan/BU News Service.
A protester raises her fist as she sits on the street, while police surround and teargas protesters on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
An officer stares into the crowd of protesters, some of whom threw rocks and other items at the police, during the Disrupt J20 protest. Photo by Vaishnavee Sharma/BU News Service.
It was also distinctly nationalistic. “A new national pride will stir ourselves, lift our sights and heal our divisions,” he said. “Whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots.”
Trump was sworn in using his own Bible, which his mother gave him in 1955 when he graduated from Sunday Church Primary School at First Presbyterian Church, as well as Abraham Lincoln’s Bible, which President Barack Obama also used. Mike Pence was sworn in as vice president by Justice Clarence Thomas with Ronald Reagan’s Bible.
“I feel like God is blessing America,” said Peggy Irvin, 52, from Denver, Colorado, who calls herself a prayer warrior. “Last night at the Welcome Concert, when they were singing ‘Glory, Hallelujah,’ it made me think — it brought so much hope for the nation.”
Others were not as optimistic. Trip Allen, 64, of Seattle, Washington, said that he thought the president had stolen the election. “I see him as illegitimate,” he said. “I think we have a totalitarian government in the making.”
As the ceremonial transition of power took place, scattered protests took place around the city. At a checkpoint in John Marshall Park, Black Lives Matter protesters chained themselves together, blocking the entrance to the swearing in, forcing police to redirect crowds to other entrances. Thousands filed down Chinatown’s H Street, chanting “Dump Donald Trump!” and “Not my President!”
Protester Ashley David, a freshman at Georgetown University, waved a large photo of Trump with the phrase “Putin Puppet” scrawled across the newly sworn-in President’s face. “He talks a big game about draining the swamp and deporting immigrants,” she said. “But he’s just importing hate and fascism.”
“Hillary won the popular vote,” said Cathy Leibensperger, a protester who waved a sign saying “Abolish Electoral College.”
“Trump is an abomination,” she added. “His cabinet picks are horrible Wall Street climate deniers and awful human beings.”
As the day continued, protests turned violent around the city. At 12th and K Street, police lobbed teargas and stun grenades at protesters who threw rocks, broke windows, started fires and damaged property. Over the course of the day, at least 217 protesters were arrested, according to NPR.
Earlier in the day, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greeted the Trump family at the White House before they departed for the Capitol and the swearing in. Following the ceremony, the Obamas departed by helicopter.
Joe Biden, the departing Vice President and his wife Jill returned to their home in Delaware via an Amtrak train. For years, Biden took the train to his job in Washington.
After the ceremony, the new president and first lady attended an inaugural luncheon in the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, where he and over 200 dignitaries and officials, including the Clintons, dined on a meal of lobster, shrimp and Angus beef. Trump asked the former first couple to stand for a round of applause, saying he was honored to have them there.
Following the luncheon, the Trumps joined the traditional inauguration parade, exiting their car to walk part of the route. There was a noticeable absence of people in the grandstands, particularly next to the president’s reviewing stand where a section of empty seats drew the notice of Twitter users.
