As President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. President on Monday, his supporters made a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. to show their support.
The Center Square joined them in the blistering cold streets of the nation’s capital to get a sense of what Trump’s base is hoping for in this administration.
Per conversations on inauguration day, one theme rang loud and clear: securing the southern border.
Second was taking on the transgender issue, namely keeping women’s sports for biological women.
“I’m hoping that we can get the border taken care of,” Chelsea Salata from Pennsylvania told The Center Square while wearing a Trump scarf a stone’s throw from the security perimeter north of the National Mall.
“Not letting migrants come through” is a priority, she added. “And making sure that we can keep our border safe.”
“And making sure that the people that are here are going to be taken back home,” she continued, referring to deportation. “I know that is not the answer that people want to hear, but if you do it the right way, it’s OK. If you do it the wrong way, it’s not.”
Trump supporters milled about the city, extending along the security perimeter guarding the National Mall north to Capital One arena. Some complained of the confusion dealing with security, being shuffled from one place to another, sometimes in long security lines.
Colorado state Rep. Ron Weinberg, a Republican visiting D.C. for the inauguration, told The Center Square that he was optimistic about Trump’s new term and backs his efforts to secure the border. When asked if Vice President J.D. Vance is the MAGA heir apparent, he expressed skepticism about political dynasties but said time will tell and that Vance deserves a chance to prove himself.
Trump’s supporters – riding the underground metro, navigating the labyrinthian security perimeters, and waiting in line to cross through security check points – donned the iconic red MAGA hats Monday.
Another hat, black with the same message, appears a new favorite as well. A handful of flags, reading messages like “Trump 2024” and “InfoWars” dotted the frigid D.C. streets.
One couple visiting D.C. from Virginia downplayed Trump’s first week in office and said the long-term actions were more important. Another man, a father with his two sons, both wearing black MAGA hats, expressed excitement about Trump’s determined tone and his comments about taking the Panama Canal.
Trump made a point during his inaugural speech to say that he will take back the Panama Canal, which the U.S. built between 1903 and 1914. Trump pointed out that thousands of Americans died building the Panama Canal and that China now has undue influence over the important shipping passageway.
Another woman, Wantji Ngatchou of Maryland, expressed hope for action on the transgender issue. Trump said in his inauguration speech Monday that he would make it the official policy of the U.S. government that there are only two genders: male and female.
“Women’s sports should be women’s sports,” she said. “The Bible says in Genesis that God created the man and the woman, and you come and tell my child, my grandson, that he can be a woman…nu-uh. We don’t want it.”
Ngatchou went on to praise Trump’s tax cuts and his work to reduce the cost of living.
“Above all … Christ is glorified in America once more because everybody was so disappointed about the system, and now we are revived,” she said.
