In two weeks, on January 20, he will officially get his revenge on , taking the oath of office for his second presidential term in front of the Capitol. The customary ceremony will begin at 12 noon EST on the steps of the temple of American democracy that was desecrated four years ago by a far-right mob after Trump’s inflammatory speech that had challenged Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Not only did Trump not condone the bloody invasion of Congress by his fanatical followers, he conspicuously absented himself from his successor’s inauguration, which he attended from his Florida villa, leaving behind only a letter to Biden at the White House . It had been a century and a half since such a thing had happened in American political history – since 1869 when Andrew Johnson refused to attend the inauguration of Ulysses Grant.
Outgoing President Biden is expected to attend his opponent’s inauguration, as dictated by political culture and the need to demonstrate unity in difficult times. Despite America’s deep division, no one questioned Trump’s victory. Only health reasons could keep Biden away from the ceremony, which will take place under tight security in the shadow of terrorist attacks that have accompanied the arrival of the new year.
Festive gathering
But Trump and his people will not be limited to the “usual” ceremony that marks the Great Return to the White House. They are organizing a “Victory Rally” in Washington on January 19, the eve of the inauguration. It will be a celebratory gathering at the 20,000-capacity Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals hockey team and the Washington Wizards basketball team.
Those wishing to attend should have reserved seats on the Make America Great Again Victory Rally website from which they are informed that they can get a maximum of two tickets and that the order of priority will be strictly adhered to. “The crowd should be HUGE,” Trump said in an email to supporters.
It will be the first event organized by Trump himself since his victory in the elections last November. However, it was preceded by his speech at the annual conservative AmericaFest event in Phoenix, Arizona on December 22, in which he foreshadowed friends and foes of what is to come.
At Capital One Arena, Trump will outline his second-term goals with his familiar explosiveness, unfettered by inauguration protocol. It will be a speech aimed primarily at the American conservative audience. The next day, Trump will unfold his vision for America and the world in the presence of the foreign guests. Immediately after, he will return triumphantly to the White House to get back to work…
