The mood was high on the streets of Washington, DC, on Monday as Americans from across the country converged on the nation’s capital to celebrate the second inauguration of President Donald Trump.
Fox News Digital spoke with many Trump supporters who, despite freezing temperatures and bitter wind chill, expressed optimism and hope for America’s future under the new Trump administration.
“It’s a happy day,” said a group of South Georgia women, who wore huge star-spangled hats and “Make America Great Again” scarves and stood near the Capitol building.
“It’s amazing to have freedom again,” said one of the women named Tanya Garrett.
“Today is a day of freedom,” said another woman, Angela Anderson.
WATCH: TRUMP SPEAKS TO SUPPORTERS AT THE CAPITOL
Supporters gather outside Capital One Arena ahead of a rally in support of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the day before his planned inauguration for a second term, in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2025. (Reuters/Marko Djurica)
Anderson said she believes the Trump administration will bring “respect back to America.”
“I think it’s one of the greatest things,” she said. “We are going to be respected by other countries, we are going to prosper and bring security to our borders and the respect that there should be for people.”
Most Trump supporters who spoke with Fox News Digital said the most important thing the new president can do is move quickly to undo the damage done by the Biden administration by securing the border, restoring the the American economy and energy and projecting American strength. against the enemies of the nation.
“I’m very, very excited,” said Rachel Quy, visiting from Atlanta and standing outside Union Station. “I’m a Vietnamese American and I don’t like communists and a lot of us who are anti-communists are hoping that Trump can stop this or at least weaken them so we can make America stronger.”
WATCH TRUMP’S FULL INAUGURAL SPEECH
The Capital One Arena fills before Donald Trump’s victory rally on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. US President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in on January 20. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
In a pub a few blocks from the Capitol, celebrations began at ten in the morning. As televisions showed Trump exiting St. John’s Episcopal Church after morning services, the crowd in the bar erupted in cheers and applause.
“A lot of changes are going to happen,” said Jeff, a Trump fan sitting near the bar who came from Alaska for the inauguration. “We’re going to make immigration big, bringing things back to America, businesses. It’s a new era, I look forward to it.”
Another Trump supporter, Will, who was sitting nearby, added that he had never felt the same type of energy for another president.
“We’re from Oregon, so it’s a blue state, so it’s nice to be around like-minded people,” he said.
TRUMP SUPPORTERS ARGENT OUTSIDE CAPITAL ONE ARENA AHEAD OF DC VICTORY RALLY
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Al Drago/Pool Photo via AP)
Outside, supporters lined Pennsylvania Avenue, where Trump and his motorcade were expected to pass on their way to Capital One Arena.
“We were doing a lot better under Trump, so we’re looking forward to another four years,” said Philip Swinson, owner of a Southern California construction company. Alongside Swinson was his father and business partner, Brad Swinson.
“I’m almost 72 years old and I’m going to remember [Biden] “We are by far the worst president of my lifetime,” Brad said. “We are committed to liberty, to the Constitution, to free enterprise, to all the things that they seem to be against, at least the Democrats are against. [and] the deep state and I think people can see through that. »
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Some said they noticed a shift in energy in their communities, with more people willing to openly agree and support Trump and his agenda.
“Everything is better than what we’ve had in the last four years,” said Levi, a young man from Wisconsin. “People who were my friends, who were liberals, hardcore leftists, now they’re telling me, ‘You know what? We need to change something here.'”
“It’s been embarrassing the last four years. We’ve had no one to direct, no one to run the show,” said Deanna, of Illinois. “America now has someone in charge.”
