Trump supporters braved cold weather in Washington for his “Victory Rally,” eager for the event before his inauguration. Many, like Amy Teutenberg, shifted their political allegiance to Trump, hoping for stronger leadership and changes in trade and immigration policies. During his speech, Trump promised to dismantle the establishment and take swift action against challenges he attributed to Biden’s administration. Despite freezing temperatures leading to an indoor inauguration, supporters remained committed, showcasing their enthusiasm for Trump’s vision.
Trump Supporters Gather for a Historic Rally
As the snow began to fall in Washington on Sunday, a sea of Trump supporters braved the chill and drizzle, standing in line for hours. The queue snaked across multiple city blocks as eager fans awaited Trump’s “Victory Rally,” a major event held just a day before his inauguration. Those hoping to secure one of the approximately 20,000 seats in the Washington Capitals’ hockey arena arrived well before the doors opened at 1 PM.
Many supporters traveled great distances, including 37-year-old Amy Teutenberg from Wisconsin. Once a Democrat and a campaigner for Barack Obama, she shifted her allegiance to Trump in 2016. Her uncle, a construction worker, highlighted the shuttered factories in Milwaukee, which were relocated to China, prompting her to reconsider her political stance. “We always thought the Democrats stood up for the working class,” she remarked, emphasizing her surprise at Trump’s focus on these issues.
Hope for Change and Strong Leadership
Teutenberg expressed hope that Trump would implement stricter tariffs on China and rejuvenate American manufacturing. Disillusioned by Obama’s failure to end the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, she sees Biden as lacking strength. “We need a strong leader who other countries won’t mess with,” she stated, adding that she admires Trump’s direct communication style.
Supporters echoed similar sentiments as they waited in line. Many believe that Trump prioritizes the needs of everyday Americans. A 55-year-old small business owner from Florida declared, “He makes you feel important.” Others, like Tristan Yovino, a school administrator from Massachusetts, felt a renewed sense of national pride under Trump’s leadership, contrasting it with a perceived bleakness under Biden’s administration.
During his evening speech, Trump invigorated his supporters with promises of a new era of American strength, prosperity, and dignity. He committed to dismantling the “failed and corrupt establishment” and hinted at an aggressive shift in immigration policies, including the potential reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers.
As Trump prepared to take office, he planned to sign over 100 executive orders on his first day, aiming to tighten immigration measures and relax environmental regulations to boost oil production. He attributed the nation’s challenges to Biden’s administration, suggesting that the world teetered on the edge of conflict but assuring his supporters of swift action to address these crises.
Despite Trump’s critical remarks about his predecessor, he refrained from threatening legal action against his political opponents, possibly signaling a willingness to unify. The Village People, who famously opposed Trump’s use of their song, ended the rally on a positive note, singing “Y.M.C.A.” with a smiling Trump.
However, the weather posed a challenge for the inauguration. With temperatures expected to drop to minus 4 degrees Celsius and a biting wind forecasted, Trump’s ceremony was moved indoors for the first time since Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1985. This decision also altered the guest list, which included international leaders, marking a departure from traditional domestic-only attendance.
Teutenberg, undeterred by the cold, expressed her readiness to support Trump regardless of the weather. “I brought everything. Including merino wool socks and hand warmers,” she said, sharing her commitment to standing by her beliefs.