Trump returns to a changed Washington, this time with a full embrace from Republicans
When President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office on Monday inside a tightly packed Capitol Rotunda, he will be surrounded by a very different Washington than he was eight years ago.
Then, when Trump gave a speech about 바카라 게임 웹사이트American carnage바카라 게임 웹사이트 on the inaugural stage in the rain, many congressional Republicans were silently prepared to push back on the most radical elements of his agenda and investigate his background.
Today, they are almost unanimously backing him. World leaders and corporate CEOs who once balked at Trump were scheduled to attend the ceremony, prepared to brave the bitter cold to publicly show their support before events were moved inside.
It is also a far different Washington from four years ago, when the stage built for Democrat Joe Biden바카라 게임 웹사이트s inauguration had to be hastily repaired after an insurrection of Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s supporters just two weeks beforehand. The rioters tore pieces off the scaffolding to use as weapons against police who tried to stop them from breaking into the Capitol and halting the certification of Biden바카라 게임 웹사이트s victory.
The Rotunda was packed then, too, as rioters violently rushed in after breaking through the main doors. They hung off statues, called out for lawmakers and battled police who were trying to push them out of the building.
Trump refused to attend Biden바카라 게임 웹사이트s inauguration, and many Republicans thought his political career was over. But he came back stronger than ever 바카라 게임 웹사이트 and brought Washington with him.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s a party victory in the sense that there바카라 게임 웹사이트s this new populist Republican Party,바카라 게임 웹사이트 said Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. 바카라 게임 웹사이트There바카라 게임 웹사이트s no question that the enthusiasm level is much higher than it was eight years ago.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s second inauguration will also be different because it will be held indoors, a last-minute change because of the frigid, windy weather. The platform on the West Front of the Capitol, built over many months, will stand unused and barren as he takes the oath inside.
Biden바카라 게임 웹사이트s inauguration in 2020 was unusual, as well, held without the normal crowds because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests on the platform were spaced out instead of crowded in.
Cramer said he attended, but many other lawmakers did not, and he said it felt 바카라 게임 웹사이트weird" but also more intimate with fewer people. 바카라 게임 웹사이트I remember the big teleprompter, the giant screen TV that Joe Biden was reading off of, and just how few people that were out there listening to it,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he said.
Did he ever think Trump, mostly shunned by official Washington after the Jan. 6 attack, would be back at the Capitol taking the oath of office?
바카라 게임 웹사이트It was a possibility that clearly always existed,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Cramer said.
South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds says that while Trump was an unknown in 2017, Washington Republicans now understand how he operates.
바카라 게임 웹사이트They know he바카라 게임 웹사이트s going to make statements and that he바카라 게임 웹사이트s going to test the waters,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Rounds says. 바카라 게임 웹사이트But they also know that when it바카라 게임 웹사이트s all said and done, he바카라 게임 웹사이트ll take counsel and then he바카라 게임 웹사이트ll make a decision.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Despite the widespread support and unified power in Washington, Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s second presidency still faces obstacles 바카라 게임 웹사이트 including a narrow majority in the House and different views within the party as he and Republican leaders eye massive bills to cut taxes, secure the border, deport immigrants and boost energy production.
An early test in December showed Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s limits after Congress to add a debt limit increase to year-end spending legislation.
For Democrats, the moment is fraught.
바카라 게임 웹사이트I think it바카라 게임 웹사이트s all the more clear this time around that the challenges that we face and the divisiveness of our nation, that it runs deep,바카라 게임 웹사이트 says Democrat Andy Kim of New Jersey, a freshman senator. 바카라 게임 웹사이트This is not just about one person in the Oval Office. This is not just about Trump. It isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t just about Biden.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Kim said he바카라 게임 웹사이트s been mulling legislation that could win bipartisan support and help people come together 바카라 게임 웹사이트 perhaps investments in civics education or a national service program as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, says he sees a difference in Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s Cabinet nominees, many of whom he believes were picked because they are loyal to him. His Cabinet eight years ago was more 바카라 게임 웹사이트well-respected, well-qualified people.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Video below: Trump to be sworn in as 47th president on coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years
King attended Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트s first inauguration and said his most vivid memory was hearing him utter the words 바카라 게임 웹사이트American carnage.바카라 게임 웹사이트
In contrast to hopeful inaugural speeches of the past, Trump said then that a 바카라 게임 웹사이트different reality exists바카라 게임 웹사이트 for many Americans trapped in poverty, for communities that lost factories, for schools that left 바카라 게임 웹사이트our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge바카라 게임 웹사이트 and 바카라 게임 웹사이트the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.바카라 게임 웹사이트
바카라 게임 웹사이트This American carnage stops right here and stops right now,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Trump said in his speech. He has repeated those themes throughout the last eight years.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It was a very jarring moment,바카라 게임 웹사이트 King said.