Images of the crowd during Trump’s inauguration Via Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – They come from New York and Washington, North Carolina and Southern California, New Jersey and Newcastle, and even Europe and China.

Many were long-time supporters of the incoming US President, Donald Trump, MAGA hat warriors who firmly believe his denial that he will “Make America Great Again.” Some were hearing Trump speak for the first time and were curious.

Others were not particularly political but wanted to see history continue. Others thought that a convicted felon had no right to be in the White House and protested against him.

They were there to witness – albeit on screen – the swearing in for a second term on Monday of Trump, who has vowed to push the limits of executive power, deport millions of immigrants, maintain retaliation against enemies his political and changing role. of the US on the world stage.

Perry Burnett, 56, was the first to be inaugurated. She was wearing a red dress and sporting a MAGA cap.

He said: “All these things I’m wearing, I couldn’t wear them in a show in Southern California. His expectations were high. “My wife, on the day she was chosen, he booked the tickets, he said, ‘we have to be there for this, because this is going to change the world.’

For Daul Williams, 61, his fourth inauguration was about the economy and inflation — an issue that polls show was key to Trump’s victory. the November election and a big concern for many voters.

“I like bacon. I like bacon at $ 7 a pound. Right now, bacon is $ 13.50 a pound,” he said.

Grace Sun had traveled all the way from Shenzhen in southeast China and hoped Trump would announce better relations between Washington and Beijing. Millie Eads (EPA:), a high school teacher in Texas, wanted his students to know “that this is a beautiful country to live in.” He was wearing a huge yellow poncho to protect himself from the bad weather.

The two men, who gave their names only as Alex and James, dressed as Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, were old friends who met in the US capital for the event and believed that they are not in politics.

They said: “We just came to have fun.”

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Not everyone was happy with the prospect of the next four years. Although the anti-Trump protests were smaller than in 2017, thousands of activists held a ‘People’s March’ on Saturday and some braved the snow to protest on Monday.

Cameron White, 27, of Manassas, Virginia, attended Monday’s event. He said that he is an organizer of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“We’re not a protest against Trump. Trump is just a representative of a larger system. And that’s the system we’re organizing and trying to fight against,” said White.

Morgan Artyukhina, of Washington, said she worries about what’s to come. Like others at the protest, she said she worries about what a Trump presidency will mean for immigrants, the poor and LGBTQ people.

But he said he also felt solidarity from those like him who opposed his policies.

“Our message is that we will not be divided by their messages of hate. We will stand united and we will stand up for each other,” he said.

Like others who came out, Artyukhina, wearing boots and a bobble hat, braved the cold. The festival was brought indoors for the first time in 40 years due to the cold temperatures.

Michael Vasquez, 58, of North Carolina, was waving a 2.4-foot-tall “TRUMP” sign.

“The sign here comforts me,” he said. “It warms Americans and it warms people around the world.”

“We won. We’re back. So I’m happy.”