Politics

Trump Celebrates in Washington at Rally Laced With Exaggerations and Falsehoods

Published

5 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Trump Celebrates in Washington at Rally Laced With Exaggerations and Falsehoods

President-elect Donald J. Trump delivered a boastful, campaign-style rally at a downtown Washington arena on the eve of his second inaugural, celebrating his election victory and vowing to advance his agenda in spite of what he called a “failed and corrupt political establishment” in the nation’s capital.

The speech at Capital One Arena down the street from the White House was classic Trump. In remarks laced with exaggerations and outright falsehoods, the president-elect railed about illegal immigration, bragged about the swing states he won last November, and denigrated President Biden.

“Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand-new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” the president-elect said, adding that Mr. Biden presided over “a failed administration. We’re not going to take it anymore.”

The rally was a break with the tradition for presidents, who have sought to reserve their comments for the official inauguration speech, to be delivered moments after taking the oath of office with the world watching.

In one of his most hotly anticipated actions, Mr. Trump hinted strongly that he would pardon many of the people convicted of attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6 four years ago.

“Tomorrow, everybody in this very large arena will be very happy with my decision on the J6 hostages,” he said, using the term that he prefers for the people who have been convicted in the attack. “You’ll be very, very happy. I would say about 99.9 percent in this beautiful arena.”

He was joined on the stage by Village People for a live rendition of their song “Y.M.C.A.,” which has become part of the unofficial soundtrack of Mr. Trump’s campaign because of his repeated use of it at his rallies.

Mr. Trump will not take office until Monday at noon. But his return to Washington began in earnest on Sunday, with a full day of ceremonial and political events intended to underscore his remarkable ascendance — again — to the seat of American power.

For Mr. Trump, the rally was an opportunity to speak to his supporters in the language they have grown to love: a casual and sometimes rambling review of his own accomplishments, filled with attacks on his adversaries — journalists, Democrats, immigrants, moderate Republicans and foreign leaders.

Mr. Trump called Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla, to talk about the coming effort to cut government spending and regulations. He vowed to end diversity efforts around the country. And he showed a video recounting deadly attacks on Americans by undocumented immigrants.

“The border security measures I will outline in my inaugural address tomorrow will be the most aggressive, sweeping effort to restore our borders the world has ever seen,” Mr. Trump vowed in front of the boisterous crowd.

“We will stop illegal immigration once and for all,” he added. “We will not be invaded. we will not be occupied, we will not be overrun, we will not be conquered. We will be a free and proud nation once again and that will take place tomorrow at 12 o’clock.”

He also said he would release “in the coming days” the classified records relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., “and other topics of great public interest. It’s all going to be released.”

It was unclear what, exactly, Mr. Trump was talking about. It was a repeat of a promise he made eight years ago and did not fully make good on.

His speech was filled with the kinds of misleading or exaggerated claims he often made on the campaign trail. At one point on Sunday, the president-elect claimed that he had won the youth vote by 36 points. In fact, exit polls showed that while young voters did shift toward Mr. Trump, he lost most categories of younger voters to Ms. Harris.

A day before he takes the oath of office for the second time, Mr. Trump hosted a private breakfast with Republican senators at Blair House, the 19th-century mansion across the street from the White House that serves as the president’s exclusive guesthouse, often used by world leaders.

He then traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to fallen U.S. service members. At the cemetery, the president-elect placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in a somber ceremony that has become a tradition for presidents just before their inaugurals.

Wearing a long overcoat and gloves in the rainy, cold weather, Mr. Trump lifted the large wreath, assisted by a service member at the cemetery, and placed it on an easel at the tomb. He stood silently for a moment before Vice President-elect JD Vance did the same.

After the wreaths were placed, a soldier played “Taps,” the sound echoing through the hallowed burial grounds.

For more than a half-hour, Mr. Trump, Mr. Vance and their wives talked with the families of service members who had been killed at the Abbey Gate in Kabul during the evacuation of American troops from Afghanistan.

An icy rain pelted down as they walked from one gravestone to another in Section 60, where many deceased U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. Mr. Trump placed what appeared to be a gold-tinged challenge coin on each of the headstones. Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Vance carried lilies. Mrs. Trump placed them at each gravesite.

The rally took place blocks from the National Mall, his first such address in Washington since the election in November. The president-elect ended his day by attending a candlelight dinner with supporters.

The busy schedule was a prelude to what Mr. Trump’s aides promise will be an intense day of activity on Monday, including his inaugural address and a flurry of executive orders and presidential actions on immigration and other areas.

Forecasts of frigid weather have scrambled the choreography and cadence of Monday’s inaugural events. Mr. Trump’s inaugural address was moved indoors, to the Capitol, and the traditional parade was canceled, meaning the viewing stand for dignitaries across from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, which took months to build, will sit empty.

But Mr. Trump’s aides are racing to rewrite the script. Mr. Trump is planning to return to Capital One Arena on Monday, after he becomes president, and his aides are considering whether to have him sign some of the executive orders from a desk placed onstage.

Even before his Sunday events, Mr. Trump began his day the way he often did while serving as the 45th president: with a post on social media.

“Hostages starting to come out today!” he wrote on his Truth Social site, referring to the implementation of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The deal called for the release of hostages, which began on Sunday. He hailed the release of “three wonderful young women.”

Also on Mr. Trump’s mind was the fate of TikTok. He said in a Truth Social post on Sunday morning that he would sign an executive order on Monday to give the Chinese-owned app, which stopped operating in the United States because of a ban that went into effect on Sunday, an extension to keep functioning.

Mr. Trump, who has made clear he wants the app up and running during his inauguration and related events, wrote that there would not be liability for tech companies that keep the app active until he takes office. Soon after, the app began flickering back to life.

Related Topics:Donald J Featured Inaugurations politics and government Presidential Election of 2024 trump

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Politics

How technology has changed inauguration coverage

Published

5 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

How technology has changed inauguration coverage

Millions of people across the country are expected to tune in to President-elect Trump’s second inauguration ceremony. Television networks, online publications and social media outlets are preparing for the big event. The way inaugurations have been presented to the public has changed drastically over the years.

“We must think big and dream even bigger,” Trump said during his first inaugural address in 2017.

Tens of millions of people watched his first address in real time – both on television and through online streaming. But inaugural addresses and analysis of the speeches were not always available immediately. In 1789, when George Washington was sworn in for the first time, his speech was not available to the public until several days later.

TRUMP NAMES LATEST CABINET PICKS AS JAN. 20 INAUGURATION NEARS

Thomas Jefferson became the first president to have his inauguration speech printed in a newspaper the same day he gave his address in 1801. The National Intelligencer printed the speech on the morning of Jefferson’s inauguration.

James Polk was the first president to have his address reported by telegraph. It was also the first time a speech was shown in a newspaper illustration, by the Illustrated London News.

James Polk takes the presidential oath in this illustration of his inauguration. Polk’s inauguration was the first to be published as an illustration in newspapers. (Library of Congress)

Drawings were the main visual for inaugurations for another 12 years, until photography became more frequently used. James Buchanan was the first president to have a photograph taken at his swearing-in. Another 40 years later, video was used to record inaugurations for the public.

William McKinley was the first president to appear on a movie camera during his inaugural address in 1901. Only silent films were available then, but that would change over the years as inaugural addresses began to incorporate audio.

James Buchanan's swearing in is seen in an old photograph.

James Buchanan was the first president to have a photograph taken when he was sworn into office. (Library of Congress)

In 1921, Warren Harding was the first to use loudspeakers to address the crowd attending his inauguration in person. Four years later, Calvin Coolidge was the first to have his inaugural broadcast nationally by radio. The White House Historical Association estimates his 1925 address reached more than 23 million radio listeners. Herbert Hoover gave the first multimedia inaugural. His 1929 address was the first recorded on a talking newsreel.

“It is a dedication and consecration under God to the highest office in service of our people,” Hoover said during his address.

After World War II, an increasing number of Americans bought television sets for their homes. By 1949, almost all major cities had at least one local television station, and 4.2 million American homes had TV sets. Harry Truman became the first president to have his inauguration broadcast live that year. More than a decade later, John F. Kennedy had his address broadcast in color for the estimated 500,000 Americans who had color television sets.

“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country,” Kennedy famously said during his inauguration speech.

Ronald Reagan sought to bring the pageantry of inauguration events to Americans across the country. His inaugural committee hosted around 100 satellite inaugural balls that were broadcast in 32 cities.

A view of the White House with American flags draped between columns.

Americans used to have to wait days to read a president’s inaugural address in the newspaper. Today, the event can be livestreamed in real time all over the world. (Associated Press)

“Almost 200 years ago, at the first inaugural, people came by stagecoach. This time, people all over America, millions of people, are attending this one by satellite,” Reagan said during a ball at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

More than a decade later, Bill Clinton’s second inauguration in 1997 was available on the internet via livestream. Clinton had signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 just a year before at the Library of Congress.

“Ten years ago, the internet was the mystical province of physicists; today, it is a commonplace encyclopedia for millions of schoolchildren,” Clinton said during his inaugural address. “As we look back at this remarkable century, we may ask, ‘Can we hope not just to follow, but even to surpass the achievements of the 20th century in America?’”

With the growth of the internet, social media use also expanded.

“We have always understood that when times change, so must we,” Barack Obama said at his second inaugural address in 2013.

Obama was the first president to join Twitter. His 2013 address generated more than 1 million tweets. According to Pew Research, around 51% of Americans owned a smartphone at the time. When Trump was sworn into office in 2017, that percentage rose to 77%. Cellphone carriers installed extracellular antennas ahead of the address for the massive crowd that would be sharing photos and videos from the day’s events on social media.

When Joe Biden gave his address in 2021, his inaugural committee relied on technology for nearly every aspect of the event. The coronavirus pandemic forced much of Biden’s festivities to move online.

“The world is watching all of us today. So, here is my message to those beyond our borders: America has been tested, and we have come out stronger for it,” Biden said during his address.

Bret Baier currently serves as FOX News Channel’s (FNC) anchor and executive editor of Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights at 6-7PM/ET), chief political anchor of the network and co-anchor of the network’s election coverage. Baier is also host of FOX News Audio’s “The Bret Baier Podcast” which includes Common Ground and The All-Star Panel. He joined FNC in 1998 as the first reporter in the Atlanta bureau and is now based in Washington, D.C.

Politics

Opinion: Experts once thought highly of Biden's presidency. Here's how his legacy is likely to change

Published

6 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Opinion: Experts once thought highly of Biden's presidency. Here's how his legacy is likely to change

Our survey of presidential experts a year ago drew attention for ranking Joe Biden 14th among the presidents, ahead of such consequential chief executives as Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan. At the time, many expressed surprise, if not skepticism, that the third edition of our Presidential Greatness Project had put Biden in the top third of the nation’s presidents.

True, President Biden helped lead the nation out of the COVID-19 pandemic while presiding over a series of legislative achievements, and many gave him credit for restoring important norms to the Oval Office after the tumultuous term of Donald Trump, whom the experts ranked last. But the story was unfinished, and the verdict was preliminary.

In the months following the release of our survey, voters and experts alike learned much more about Biden’s decline with age, laid bare especially by his disastrous debate performance against Trump in June. Weeks later, Biden dropped out of the race, handing the reins to Vice President Kamala Harris, who would go on to be decisively defeated by Trump.

Even as Biden’s administration shifted its focus to his legacy in the months since he dropped out of the race, his presidency grew more fraught. Evidence of his diminished capacity accumulated; he pardoned his son Hunter, undermining his claims to restoring upright adherence to the rule of law; and Trump and his fellow Republicans prepared to return to power and reverse much of what Biden accomplished.

Presidential legacies are a quintessentially American phenomenon; it seems that from the moment a president steps off the inaugural dais, chatter about their prospective legacy and the impact of this event or that decision begins. Those legacies remain contested well after they leave office, sometimes for many decades: Consider the continuing reassessment of presidents such as Wilson, Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant, all of whom have been out of office for well over a century.

Presidents themselves are quite aware of this. Barack Obama once observed that he and his presidential predecessors were all part of America’s long-running story and that each president just tries to get their particular paragraph right. Of course, presidents don’t write their paragraphs alone. Journalists, historians and the allies and enemies of individual presidents play significant roles in the way each is remembered and regarded.

Advocates of a particular president often point to the substantive accomplishments of an administration as evidence of a great legacy. Biden’s defenders, for example, argue that the American Rescue Plan, the infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act make him a momentous president, at least in the domestic sphere. But for each of those successes, there are blemishes such as Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, his struggle with inflation and the chaotic situation at the southern border.

The reality is that while most modern presidents can lay claim to significant policy successes, most of those initiatives don’t end up being the most significant parts of history’s narrative about them. Legacies are just as much about the presidents’ political performance, their relationship with the American people, the success of their parties and the historical memory of what it was like during their time in office — the presidential vibes, as our students might say.

When we reflect on the ways presidents are remembered, more often than not their greatest policy achievements aren’t at the forefront. Gerald Ford is best remembered not for his administration’s fight against inflation or for signing campaign finance reforms but for pardoning his predecessor, Richard Nixon. Jimmy Carter’s presidency is more often defined by his malaise speech than by the 13 days he spent at Camp David negotiating a durable peace between Israel and Egypt.

Looking at Biden’s more recent predecessors is revealing. Bill Clinton’s paragraph is largely about the deepening of partisan polarization and his impeachment, while George W. Bush’s, bookended by the Florida recount and Hurricane Katrina, centers on the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Barack Obama’s paragraph is so far focused on his historic place as the first African American president and his successful push for the Affordable Care Act, along with the rise of the tea party and further polarization. Trump’s first term was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, two impeachments and the Jan. 6 insurrection, but now that he will become the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve nonconsecutive terms, his paragraph is only half-written.

As we contemplate Biden’s legacy, it is more likely that his ranking in our most recent survey will be his high-water mark. Future assessments will have to incorporate new information not only about his deterioration but also the extent to which he and his staff kept it hidden, the administration’s ineffectual handling of the war in Gaza, the president’s low standing with the American people at the conclusion of his term and the precarious situation in which he leaves his party.

A year ago, Biden still seemed to have a chance of reelection and was credibly playing the role of defender of American democracy. Now we know that more of his paragraph will deal with the difference between what he promised — to restore a measure of normalcy after Trump and serve as a bridge to a new generation of leadership — and what he delivered: the second Trump administration.

Brandon Rottinghaus is a professor of political science at the University of Houston. Justin Vaughn is an associate professor of political science at Coastal Carolina University.

Politics

The One Thing Americans Remember About Biden

Published

12 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

The One Thing Americans Remember About Biden

What one thing do you remember most about Joe Biden’s presidency?

We surveyed more than 2,000 Americans this month and asked for their most prominent memory of Mr. Biden’s time in office. Here’s what they said, in their own words.

“Economy wrecker”
Trump voter in 2024
“The economy improved”
Harris voter
“Giving money to Israel and Ukraine”
Harris voter
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“Allowing migrants illegally”
Did not vote
“Very high border crossings”
Trump voter
“His declining cognitive abilities”
Harris voter
“Trying to help the common people”
Harris voter
“He was a total disaster”
Trump voter
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“A return to normal presidential responsibility and decency”
Harris voter

President Joe Biden will leave office on Monday with a dismal approval rating and a complicated legacy.

Unsurprisingly, Americans’ positive and negative memories of Mr. Biden in a poll conducted by The New York Times and Ipsos this month largely split along partisan lines. Respondents who voted for Donald J. Trump were unsparing in their criticism of Mr. Biden, while those who voted for Kamala Harris had mostly positive views, though some also disapproved.

What they said about Mr. Biden in these open-ended responses offers an early look at his legacy in the public’s mind.

Republicans, in particular, pointed to Mr. Biden’s mental state and age as the top thing they remember. Many Democrats relayed memories of Mr. Biden’s kindness and empathy, while others cited the economy, at times in a positive light and other times negatively. A quarter of respondents could not think of a memory at all or declined to share one.

Thinking back on Joe Biden’s presidency, what one thing do you remember most about his time in office?

Based on a poll by The New York Times and Ipsos of 2,128 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 2-10.

Top 10 categories shown, excluding “don’t know” or blank responses.

In a separate question, nearly half of Americans said that Mr. Biden left the country worse off than when he took office, just one quarter felt he left it better off, and another 25 percent said things were the same as before he became president.

There was a partisan split on this question, too, but Black and Hispanic Americans were more likely to say Mr. Biden made things worse than better, and Americans 18 to 29 were twice as likely to say Mr. Biden left the country worse off than better off.

Memories of presidents are often not static, and can grow rosier over time, a phenomenon that played out after Mr. Trump’s first term. Here’s a closer look at Americans’ current views of Mr. Biden’s time in office.

Comments from Americans who said what they remembered most was Biden’s age

“He usually didn’t have a clue what was going on around him”
Trump voter in 2024
“His declining health and confusion”
Trump voter
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“His dementia”
Trump voter
“He’s old”
Harris voter
“His performance in the debate was shocking”
Harris voter
“I think Joe Biden has a good heart, but he’s too old to be effective”
Harris voter
“He’s just not all there”
Did not vote
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Selected responses from a poll by The New York Times and Ipsos of 2,128 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 2-10.

Many Americans remember Mr. Biden more for his personal characteristics than his policies. Fourteen percent cited his age or perceived mental decline as their most prominent memory, a greater share than any specific policy. Another 4 percent mentioned memories related to his empathy and kindness.

Concern about Mr. Biden’s cognition primarily came from Republicans, though some Democrats and independents also shared misgivings. Many specifically cited his debate performance, which proved to be a turning point in his aborted campaign, as their key memory of his time in office.

Comments from Americans who said what they remembered most was the economy

“Gas prices skyrocketing”
Did not vote in 2024
“Out of control spending, reduced energy creation and inflation”
Trump voter
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“He worked hard for the middle class and added protections and laws to help most Americans”
Harris voter
“High gas prices”
Trump voter
“I honestly don’t know much of what Joe Biden did, but I know the economy has suffered”
Harris voter
“Inflation, inflation, inflation”
Trump voter
“Better economy”
Harris voter
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“Prices have gone way up”
Harris voter

Selected responses from a poll by The New York Times and Ipsos of 2,128 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 2-10.

During the campaign, voters consistently cited the economy as their most important issue. As Americans look back on Mr. Biden’s time in office, many mentioned economic conditions as their principal recollection.

Republicans pointed to rising prices as the main impact of his presidency, while Democrats were largely more positive, citing the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Still, many Democrats and independents had concerns about the cost of living.

Comments from Americans who said what they remembered most was immigration

“Open border”
Trump voter in 2024
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“The huge numbers of illegal immigrants that have entered the country”
Trump voter
“Unsafe borders, terrible economic policies, weak leadership”
Harris voter
“So many immigrants living on welfare”
Trump voter
“Immigration ran amok for several years and now it is too late to try and curtail the problem”
Harris voter
“His indifference to open borders”
Harris voter
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“Skyrocketing illegal immigration”
Did not vote

Selected responses from a poll by The New York Times and Ipsos of 2,128 U.S. adults conducted from Jan. 2-10.

Mr. Trump made Mr. Biden’s immigration policy a core issue in his campaign to return to the White House. Border crossings rose during Mr. Biden’s presidency, creating the largest immigration surge in U.S. history (though crossings plummeted late in his term after he tightened enforcement).

Among Republicans, Mr. Biden’s immigration policies were among the most mentioned memories. These recollections were often expressed with evident frustration, and were frequently intertwined with economic concerns.

Comments from Americans who said what they remembered most was foreign policy

“Getting out of Afghanistan. It was horrible”
Trump voter in 2024
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“His epic debate failure and his retreat from Afghanistan, sacrificing troops’ lives doing it”
Harris voter
“Continuing to send weapons overseas during the Israel and Palestine conflict and not allowing Ukraine to use them against Russia”
Harris voter
“His inability to tell Israel that genocide is wrong, no matter the provocation”
Did not vote
“More interested in foreign aid than the American people”
Trump voter
“Helping a lot outside the country”
Harris voter
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“War”
Harris voter
“Supporting war with billions”
Harris voter

Selected responses from a poll by The New York Times and Ipsos of 2,128 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 2-10.

Americans who mentioned foreign policy mostly looked back on the Biden years as a time of war. Democrats and Republicans alike expressed concern about spending on foreign conflicts that they believed starved domestic spending. Overall, 60 percent of Americans in the survey said the United States was too focused on helping other countries and needed to focus more on problems at home.

Many cited the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as their main memory of Mr. Biden’s time in office. Democrats were especially likely to cite concerns about the deaths of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

Comments from Americans who said what they remembered most was pandemic recovery or legislative accomplishments

“Coming out of Covid, avoiding recession, dealing with global supply issues”
Harris voter in 2024
“He got us through the pandemic, he probably saved many people from dying of Covid”
Harris voter
“Covid stimulus and rebuilding the economy after Covid”
Harris voter
“He fixed us from Covid mess”
Did not vote
“Build back better”
Harris voter
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“Getting the bipartisan jobs act passed”
Harris voter
“Infrastructure”
Harris voter
“Forgiving student debt, Covid lockdowns”
Trump voter
“His attempt to unburden some of us with student loans”
Harris voter
“He forgave my loan”
Trump voter
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Selected responses from a poll by The New York Times and Ipsos of 2,128 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 2-10.

Few Americans mentioned memories of the pandemic, but those who did remembered Mr. Biden’s work to help pull the country out of it. Many cited his work on the economic recovery after the pandemic and his efforts to avoid a recession.

Some, particularly Democrats, also cited key pieces of post-pandemic legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure spending.

And for a handful, Mr. Biden’s student loan forgiveness was their key memory, including some who had firsthand experience.

Comments from Americans who said what they remembered most was corruption

“Corrupt”
Trump voter in 2024
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“Corruption to enrich him and his family”
Trump voter
“Endless scandals and fraud”
Trump voter
“He is a criminal”
Trump voter
“Pardoned his son, bad policies”
Did not vote
“Pardoning his son”
Did not vote
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“The lies and corruption”
Did not vote

Selected responses from a poll by The New York Times and Ipsos of 2,128 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 2-10.

A small but significant share of Republicans mentioned corruption, with many citing Mr. Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, as evidence.

Taken all together, these responses offer a snapshot in time as Mr. Biden leaves office. History shows that many former presidents later get a reputational boost. This was the case for George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. Time will tell if Mr. Biden will follow a similar path.