Trump returns
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 21 January 2025
⏱️ 28 minutes
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Summary
Crowds of Trump supporters in Washington were supposed to watch the inauguration on the National Mall. But when plans changed last-minute because of freezing temperatures, the president’s fans crowded instead into indoor space at Capital One Arena and nearby bars.
At the same time, Trump was getting sworn in at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, flanked by tech billionaires and members of his proposed Cabinet.
On today’s episode, host Martine Powers talks with chief correspondent Dan Balz about the unusual inauguration, Trump’s plans for his presidency and what he’s already doing to make them a reality.
Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Ted Muldoon, who also mixed the show. It was edited by Reena Flores. Thanks to Annah Aschbrenner.
Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
Check out a live podcast taping that will be hosted by Martine on Jan. 25 about the enduring legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | So right now I'm here with producer Laura Benchoff. |
| 0:09.0 | We are about a block or so away from Capital One Arena where a lot of the people who have |
| 0:15.0 | come here to attend the inauguration are hoping to get inside. |
| 0:20.0 | There is a really, really long line. |
| 0:22.1 | This line is snaking for blocks and blocks. |
| 0:25.2 | And as we've been walking up and down, |
| 0:27.4 | we see a lot of people selling stuff. |
| 0:30.3 | The Maga gear is going like hotcakes. |
| 0:34.6 | Hats and gloves and scoffs, guys. |
| 0:36.3 | Hats, gloves, scoffs, hats. Hats, gloves, scores, scores, |
| 0:38.1 | hats, gloves, guys. Clubs. Hounds of Trump supporters in D.C. were supposed to be watching |
| 0:45.4 | the inauguration on the National Mall. Plans changed last minute because of the extremely |
| 0:50.7 | cold weather. So supporters crowded into interspace at the Capital One arena. |
| 0:56.6 | And the ceremony took place in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. |
| 0:59.6 | So Trump is walking through the crypt right now as he gets ready to head upstairs to the rotunda. |
| 1:05.5 | Ladies and gentlemen, the president-elect of the United States, the Honorable Donald John Trump. |
| 1:11.8 | The Golden Age of America begins right now. |
| 1:20.7 | From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. |
| 1:33.3 | We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. |
| 1:36.3 | During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first. |
| 1:56.7 | From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post reports. I'm Martine Powers. It's Monday, |
| 2:04.2 | January 20th. Today, the second inauguration of Donald Trump. After a dramatic election and a felony conviction, President Trump is back in power. We'll talk about the new vision for America |
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