WASHINGTON: Donald Trump pledged presidential initiatives to fulfill the “American Dream” and end “American decline”, addressing an inauguration rally on Sunday, saying he would crack down on vigilantism and immigration. Will download.
At a campaign-style gathering in Washington, the 78-year-old Republican promised cheering supporters that he would act with “historic momentum” from his first day back in the White House.
“Tomorrow at noon, the curtain will close on four long years of American decline, and we will usher in a brand new day of American strength and prosperity,” Trump told a packed sports arena.
“I will act with historic speed and strength to address every single crisis facing our country.”
The billionaire Trump was joined on stage by Elon Musk – a tech tycoon who will lead a major cost-cutting campaign in his administration – and who vowed to make America strong “for centuries”.
Then at the end of the rally, Trump danced with disco band Village People as they performed their 1970s hit “YMCA,” which became his unofficial campaign anthem.
Much of Trump’s hour-long speech focused on immigration, driving home a dark message that fueled his landslide victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in November’s presidential election.
“We’re going to stop the attack on our borders,” added Trump, who has vowed to crack down on undocumented immigrants within days of taking office.
But he also promised “many” executive orders from his first day in the Oval Office, including a “transgender madness” and banning critical race theory from schools and banning trans athletes from women’s sports. Includes keeping.
Trump also reiterated his promise to release the assassination files on former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Bobby Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Despite the snow, long lines of Trump supporters formed outside the arena.
“I wanted to see history unfold before my eyes,” 21-year-old student Alan McNally from Connecticut told AFP.
Earlier, the future US commander-in-chief made a highly symbolic visit to Arlington National Cemetery, the resting place of America’s war dead.
Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by Vice President-elect JD Vance.
The embarrassing ceremony contrasted with Trump’s last trip to the cemetery as a presidential candidate in August, when the US military criticized his staff for pushing a cemetery employee.
Later on Sunday, Trump is scheduled to attend a “candlelight dinner” for supporters.
Trump’s hopes of a huge crowd to see his inauguration at the US Capitol on Monday suffered a setback, however, when forecasts of below-freezing weather forced organizers to move the ceremony indoors.
Instead of being sworn in on the steps of the Capitol, Trump will now take the oath under the large dome of its rotunda, which was last used for the ceremony at Ronald Reagan’s inauguration 40 years ago.
– ‘Have faith’ –
“You’re going to hear President Trump talk about how we’re entering a golden age of America,” his incoming press secretary Carolyn Levitt told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” .
Outgoing President Joe Biden, meanwhile, traveled to South Carolina on Sunday, his last full day as US president, for a national holiday in memory of Martin Luther King Jr.
The Democrat pointedly urged Americans to “have faith in a better day to come” and promised that he is “not going anywhere”, as he prepares to hand over the man he called Democracy. has been declared a threat to
But Trump has been heavily drawn into world affairs even before taking office.
Widely used video sharing app TikTok has credited its “clarity” for being able to restore service in the United States after briefly going dark due to the ban on national security grounds.
He had earlier promised to issue an executive order delaying the ban to give time for Tik Tik’s US subsidiary to “come to an agreement” to divest itself of Chinese ownership.
In the Middle East, the first three Israeli hostages were freed Sunday under a Gaza ceasefire that Trump’s team has joined with the Biden administration.
