Donald Trump told thousands of roaring supporters on Sunday that he would “fix every single crisis facing our country,” taking a campaign-style victory lap inside a packed Washington arena a day before he returns to power with plans to aggressively reshape U.S. immigration and trade policy.
“Tomorrow, at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand new day of American strength, prosperity, dignity and pride,” he said.
Trump’s “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” took place at Capital One Arena, an indoor hockey and basketball venue that will also host some of Monday’s inauguration festivities after forecasts of bitter cold prompted officials to move the planned outdoor events inside.
The rally resembled the free-wheeling campaign speeches that have been a Trump staple since his first White House run in 2016. The event marked his first major address in Washington since he delivered a speech on Jan. 6, 2021, to his supporters that preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Ahead of the event, Trump’s fans, many dressed in the campaign’s trademark red jackets and MAGA hats, waited in a cold, driving rain along several downtown Washington blocks, some chanting “USA! USA!”
Val Tordjman, 58, had traveled across the country from Denver with tickets to watch the inauguration. When he heard the ceremony was being moved inside, notably cutting the size of the in-person audience, he said, “I felt like crying.” More here