D.C. turned into the Trump Show for inauguration
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Trump the producer, at the Commander-in-Chief Ball. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
With a swirl of Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and fight night bravado, the presidential inauguration became a freewheeling Trump show.
The big picture: After an intimate indoor swearing-in with operatic flair, President Trump fashioned an improvised inaugural "parade" at Capital One Arena, then rolled into the Oval Office to sign executive orders with jumbo markers — pardoning 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters and ordering federal workers back into the office five days a week.
- The weekend was a much different vibe than 2017: Celebrities, techies and some of the richest men in the world arrived in D.C. to toast Trump amid a heightened cultural acceptance of his presidency and policies.
Trump's A-lister seating chart reordered the power dynamic in Washington.
- Snagging coveted seats in the Capitol rotunda — in front of Trump's Cabinet nominees — were billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Jeff Bezos (and fiancée Lauren Sanchez) and Elon Musk.
- While the governors of Virginia and Texas settled for an overflow room, Dana White, the head of UFC, sat behind the Bushes.
Outside, downtown was MAGA-ed out. Supporters braved heavy security and checkpoints (most in Trump swag, some with drinks in hand) to celebrate.
- Spots like Old Ebbitt Grill and the Hamilton were packed.
- Proud Boys carrying pro-Trump signs marched through the streets of downtown chanting "Free our boys."
Thousands squeezed into Capital One Arena to watch the swearing-in and parade.
- Trump shouted out Alex Ovechkin and Capitals' owner Ted Leonsis before signing executive orders on stage.
There was no resistance dread from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who proclaimed Monday night she is "blessed with a sense of optimism" — focusing on "shared priorities with President Trump," like public safety and in-person work.
Zoom out: The four-day party was fueled by the song "YMCA" and a ton of McDonald's.
- The weekend kicked off with Friday's Crypto Ball, where Soulja Boy and Snoop Dogg performed at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Peter Thiel hosted at his Upper Northwest manse, welcoming tech brethren Zuckerberg and Sam Altman.
- On Saturday, Bezos joined Trump's soiree at his Sterling golf club.
- And on Sunday, the Amazon founder and Washington Post owner joined Musk at Trump's candlelight dinner at the National Building Museum. The Village People performed at another ball at the Salamander Hotel.
Capping it all off, an eclectic cast of celebs showed up for last night's inaugural balls, including Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Nelly, Jon Voight and more. At the Commander in Chief ball, Trump and Vice President Vance cut a plane-shaped inaugural cake with sabers and the president danced (yet again) to "YMCA" with his sword.
The intrigue: Georgetown's new Osteria Mozza competed with Cafe Milano for bigwigs: Both former President Obama and Bezos (with Washington Post CEO Will Lewis) separately dined at the former.
The other side: The Trump resistance was muted in D.C.
- There were protests at Malcolm X Park and Dupont Circle on Inauguration Day. Thousands attended Saturday's People's March, but the numbers paled to 2017's record-setting Women's March.
- To the tune of "I Will Survive," guests like former Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), former Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-Missouri) and activist Angela Davis gathered at Saturday's Peace Ball at Arena Stage.