Lights, camera, Village People: Excitement on the eve of Trump’s inauguration and day one orders

Washington: President-elect Donald Trump has pledged an avalanche of executive orders within his first few hours in the job, signalling an immediate crackdown on the US-Mexico border, the end of diversity policies in government and a pardon for swaths of people convicted of crimes relating to the 2021 Capitol riots.

President-elect Donald Trump dances with a member of Village People at a rally ahead of his inauguration.Credit: AP

Trump is expected to sign more than 100 executive orders after his inauguration ceremony, allowing the second-term president to effectively bypass Congress to deliver on some of his priorities.

“The American people have given us their trust, and in return, we are going to give them the best first day, the best first week, and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history,” Trump told supporters who gathered at a rally in Capitol One Arena in downtown Washington on Sunday (US time).

Among the orders will be measures to tighten border security, ramp up US energy production, ban transgender women in female sports, and reel in federal regulations and red tape.

He will also order the military to start work on an “iron dome” over the US – similar to Israel’s missile defence shield – and reverse numerous Biden administration policies, such as DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs, which were initially designed to ensure people in workplaces received a fair shot regardless of their background.

The rally – which culminated in Trump dancing on stage with Village People to the group’s hit Y.M.C.A. – took place on the eve of his inauguration, which was moved inside from the steps of the US Capitol due to a cold weather snap.

However, Trump’s last-minute decision to move into the Capitol rotunda left hundreds of thousands of people scrambling to find alternative plans, as the venue can only seat about 600 people – far fewer than the 200,000-plus guests who had exclusive tickets to attend his inauguration, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Trump fans who travelled to Washington hoping to watch his ceremony on giant live screens at the National Mall.

A viewing party has now been set up inside Capitol One Arena, which can host about 20,000 people. This, however, did not deter countless Trump supporters from standing in line for hours – some even arriving overnight – to get into the victory rally. Despite the expected sub-zero temperatures, many vowed to do the same to watch Trump take the oath.

Scrap workers Logan Page, 21, and Blake Bridges, 20, flew from Georgia hoping to see the president-elect, but were so far back in the queue that they accepted they would probably not get into the rally. Both were still thrilled to be in town for the inauguration weekend.

Supporters watch as Trump speaks at the Washington “victory rally”.Credit: AP

“Even being right here, I can feel his presence. That’s how powerful it is,” said Page as the pair made their way to the end of the line, which stretched almost two Metro stops from the arena by that stage.

“We want change, and we’re finally about to get some change in America,” Bridges added.

“I want deportations immediately and I want him to keep everything safe. Even going after Greenland is awesome,” he said, in reference to Trump suggesting he would attempt to seize the autonomous territory from Denmark.

Also in Washington was Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who was invited as Australia’s representative at the swearing-in ceremony and planned to meet with Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Florida senator Marco Rubio, on Tuesday.

“Every new presidency is a day of profound importance to the world and I look forward to working with the administration as a partner and ally,” Wong said, speaking to reporters at the residence of Australia’s ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd.

Back in downtown DC, Trump kicked off his formal inauguration day eve with a private breakfast with Republican senators at Blair House, the president’s official guest residence opposite the White House. He then took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, alongside Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and their wives.

Trump arrived at his victory rally to loud chants of “USA! USA!” from the 20,000-plus strong crowd, after speeches from his sons Eric and Don Jr; Eric’s wife, Lara; and UFC boss Dana White.

“We won. We won,” Trump declared, igniting another round of cheering. “What a good feeling. We like winning, don’t we, huh?”

Trump is welcomed by the crowd on arrival at the rally.Credit: AP

He told supporters that “four long years of American decline” would end with his inauguration, before teasing the blizzard of “day one” executive orders – and the reversal of many of the Biden administration’s policies.

“Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed when I take the oath of office,” he told the crowd.

“Oh, you’re gonna have a lot of fun watching television tomorrow. Somebody said yesterday, ‘Sir, don’t sign so many in one day. Let’s do it over weeks.’ Like hell we’re going to do it over weeks. We’re going to sign them immediately.”

He also said he would visit fire-ravaged Los Angeles on Friday and pledged to rebuild the city “more beautiful than ever before”.

Trump earlier announced his intention to use an executive order as soon as he is president to give TikTok more time to find an approved buyer so that the online platform is not permanently banned in the US.

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