Washington DC – President of the United States Donald Trump He was sworn in for a second term in an indoor ceremony in the Capitol, where he was protected from the winter winds of the polar vortex.

But his inauguration ceremony saw supporters descend on Washington, D.C., to celebrate.

On Monday, in his second inaugural address, Trump pledged that his legacy would be one of a “peacemaker and unifier.”

But in the same remarks, the US president outlined some of his most divisive policy proposals, including a tough crackdown on illegal immigration and “restoring” the Panama Canal.

“Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, strength, and vitality as the greatest civilization in history,” Trump said. “So as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success.”

Trump’s Democratic critics have long accused him of being a threat to American democracy – if not an outright fascist.

However, there were a small number of protesters in Washington on Monday to reject Trump’s return to the White House, marking a stark contrast to Trump’s return to the White House. Large demonstrations Before, during and after his first inauguration.

Protesters may have been deterred by the indoor inauguration ceremony or the extreme cold. Others may have felt indifference or acceptance toward Trump’s return to the White House.

However, the weather did not stop the US President’s supporters, who showed up in Make America Great Again (MAGA) gear and lined up several city blocks to enter Capital One Arena.

Trump’s last-minute decision on Friday to move his inauguration indoors left many unable to watch it in person. But the arena was set up as an alternative, with a live broadcast of the event. Additionally, Trump promised to appear in person afterward.

However, thousands of his supporters were left searching for a place in the 20,000-seat arena, which has a smaller footprint than the National Mall outdoor lawn.

“Respect again”

Although Trump has He filled his closet A foreign policy hawk, many of his supporters affirmed his pledge to promote world peace.

David Marks, who drove from Orlando, Florida, to attend the inauguration, praised Trump for using “common sense” rather than relying on bureaucracy in his governing style.

Marx rode a bicycle carrying a banner bearing the flags of Israel and Palestine and a peace sign.

He said of Trump: “He realizes that it is in our interest to achieve world peace.”

Marx was unable to reach the square, as the inauguration ceremony and the president’s speech were broadcast on huge screens.

Thousands more were left outside in the arctic cold, even after waiting hours to enter the building. Many watched the inauguration on their phones instead as they waited in slow motion line.

Trump’s inauguration speech was marked by jabs at the outgoing president Joe Biden He pledges to vigorously implement his tough electoral promises.

“America’s golden age begins now,” Trump said, citing a frequently repeated phrase from his presidential campaign.

“From now on, our country will once again prosper and be respected around the world. We will be the envy of every country, and we will no longer allow ourselves to be exploited.”

“world peace”

Those hoping to get a seat at Capital One Arena began lining up before dawn, despite temperatures reaching -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit).

Johnny Estrada, a 28-year-old police officer from New Mexico, said he and his friends made a last-minute decision to travel to the inauguration. He admitted to some disappointment about the change of venue.

“Unfortunately, it’s changed a little bit for us, but we’re here,” said Estrada, who wore a red Trump hat with a strand of fake orange hair.

“The next four years are looking really good. Even today, I’m happy to be here.”

He added that he most sympathizes with Trump’s “America First” pledge.

“I personally don’t like the way we give money to these other countries for their wars. I am an army veteran, and the money is supposed to go to our country.”

Chicago resident Shay White also did not make it to the arena, but he downplayed any crowd discontent due to the conditions.

“We are Americans no matter where we are,” White said. “There’s a lot of good energy here.”

A spot of fake blood appeared on his face, referring to the spot of blood that stained Trump’s cheek after he survived an assassination attempt in July. White explained that he is confident that Trump will help end conflicts globally.

“I think we’ll have less problems with the war. Indeed, a few days ago.” What did Gaza do? announce? White told Al Jazeera that Gaza declared a ceasefire.

Trump sent his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to the region earlier this month to help finalize the agreement. Ceasefire agreementAlong with Biden’s representatives.

Several Israeli media outlets reported that Trump’s team pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the agreement that was announced last week.

“A criminal comes with access to nuclear weapons.”

While supporters in and around the arena viewed Trump as a strongman who would fight for peace, the president’s critics feared a different outcome over the next four years.

At the Metropolitan AME Church a few blocks from the White House, the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network held a rally in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Many attendees found irony in the fact that Trump’s inauguration took place on the national holiday named after the black civil rights leader.

“We came here to talk about Trump and how to protect people,” said Valerie Adeline of New York City, wearing a fur coat and face mask to advertise Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. As she was entering the church.

“Martin Luther King Jr. stood for justice, peace and empowerment,” she added. “We celebrate his life, and this is especially important today.”

Inside, 70-year-old Duval Clemons, from New York, condemned Trump’s pledge to pardon his supporters who looted the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to overturn Biden’s election victory.

Trump repeated that pledge on Monday, telling supporters: “You’re going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages.”

Clemons also noted that Trump himself was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in connection with secret payments he tried to hide during the 2016 election.

This conviction in May made Trump the first person in the history of the United States to assume the presidency with a criminal record.

“He’s a criminal who comes with access to nuclear weapons,” Clemons said. “It is false, and it makes us weaker globally.”

“Now he’s talking about pardoning the people who stormed the Capitol, when a lot of people are still feeling the effects of that.”

“Getting ready for the next four years”

A mile north, in Meridian Park, about 200 demonstrators also gathered to denounce Trump’s pledges for mass deportations, his support for Israel and his attacks on civilians. Reproductive rights.

Rachel, 32, an art historian from Washington, D.C., said the protesters hope to send a unified message about “community” despite the different issues they support.

“It shows that our agendas are not isolated. They are intertwined and interconnected, and there is power in working across our immediate interests,” said Rachel, who chose to identify herself only by her first name.

However, the protest movement surrounding Trump’s inauguration has been relatively quiet compared to when Trump first took office in 2017.

While the Women’s March in 2017 brought an estimated 500,000 people to the US capital, its latest edition – dubbed the “People’s March on Washington” – saw a much smaller number of protesters on Saturday, although several thousand still remained… They participate.

Amy Burke, a 55-year-old protester from Tampa, Florida, who also attended the Women’s March in 2017, admitted to general fatigue before the demonstration. Trump’s second term.

“It’s hard. I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve asked to join me, and they’re tired and exhausted and disappointed. “They’re trying to prepare for the next four years.”

New policies in the future

Indeed, Trump has gone ahead with sweeping pledges to make changes – some of which he enacted within hours of his inauguration.

In his inaugural address, Trump outlined his executive actions on immigration, including declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and sending troops there.

He added that he would reinstate his positionStay in Mexico,” which forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their immigration hearings in the United States, designated Mexican drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations” and “eliminated the existence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks.”

In one of the first moves under his administration, the American authorities announced this CBP One app It was closed, and all appointments made through it were cancelled.

CBP One was established in 2020 during the first presidency of Trump and his successor, Biden Expanded Its use, making it a requirement for nearly all asylum seekers arriving at the southern border.

Videos circulated on social media showed migrants breaking down in tears after learning that their appointments had been cancelled.

Peter Cepeda, a mining industry worker from South Texas, was among the supporters who arrived in Washington, D.C., to celebrate Trump’s inauguration.

He said he looked forward to the president strengthening border security. Cepeda, a Latino immigrant, said the main reason immigration is a major issue for him is public safety.

“A lot of people are entering without being checked,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that he only supports immigration “the right way.”

But several studies have shown that illegal immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than US-born citizens.

Trump on Monday also pledged measures to boost the country’s economy, including directing members of his Cabinet to “defeat record inflation and quickly lower costs and prices.”

He also announced widespread deregulation of the energy industry, and threw his support behind increased fossil fuel extraction.

“We’ll dig, baby, we’ll dig,” Trump said, returning to a familiar phrase.

Overall, Trump’s inauguration speech was a relatively calm event, light on politics and similar to his campaign speeches.

Biden’s farewell

For his part, Biden used his final day in office to issue a series of preemptive pardons to potential targets of Trump’s revenge.

Among them were five pardons for his brothers and their spouses.

There was also a pardon for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the immunologist who sparred with Trump over his response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who called Trump a “fascist.”

Biden also protected members of Congress who investigated Trump’s role in the January 6 riot at the US Capitol.

Following the inauguration, Biden left Washington on board a special military aircraft, Air Mission 46. In his final words to former staffers, he said: “We will leave our posts, but we will not leave the fight.”

Trump’s presence was seen almost immediately at the White House, where he quickly issued a presidential proclamation ordering American flags to be flown at full staff for the day.

They were taken down for 30 days of mourning for the late President Jimmy Carter. But Trump objected to flags being flown at half-mast during his inauguration.

The flags will be returned to half-staff at the end of the day, according to the terms of his announcement.