Inaugural cheers, fireworks and heavy security in D.C. for Trump's big day

Inaugural cheers, fireworks and heavy security in D.C. for *****’s big day

WASHINGTON — Ready for his big moment, ************ swept into Washington on a military *** Thursday for three days of inaugural festivities and pledged to unify a nation that is divided and clamouring for change. Washington braced for an onslaught of crowds and demonstrators – with all the attendant hoopla and hand-wringing.

“It’s a movement like we’ve never seen anywhere in the *****,” ***** declared at a celebratory Lincoln Memorial ******* on the eve of his inauguration. To his unwavering supporters who were him from the start, he promised: “You’re not forgotten any more. You’re not forgotten any more.”

***** began taking on more trappings of the presidency, giving a salute to the Air Force officer who welcomed him as he stepped off a U.S. *** with wife Melania at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington. Later, he placed a ceremonial wreath at Arlington National Cemetery.

At a luncheon in a ballroom at his own hotel, he gave a shout-out to ********** congressional leaders, declaring: “I just want to let the ***** know we’re doing very well together.” House Speaker Paul Ryan, he said, will finally have someone to sign legislation into law. Then ***** veered into the territory of the unknowable to boast his Cabinet selections had “by far the highest IQ of any Cabinet ever.”

Just blocks away, the White House was quickly emptying out. President Barack Obama had his final weekly lunch with Vice-President ********* and got in a few final official acts, cutting the sentences of 330 inmates and placing a call to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Vice-President-elect **********, in a tweet, called Inauguration Eve “a momentous day before a historic day,” as security barricades and blockades went up around Washington in preparation for Friday’s swearing-in at the Capitol.

“We are all ready to go to work,” Pence said. “In fact, we can’t wait to get to work for the American people to make it great again.”

Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he’d be putting on his “favourite DHS jacket” and taking to the streets to inspect security preparations for the inaugural festivities.

He told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that areas where inaugural crowds will congregate will be “extra fortified this year with dump trucks, heavily armoured vehicles to prevent anybody who’s not authorized from being in the area from driving something in there.” He said there was “no specific credible ******” related to the inauguration.

*****’s public schedule for the inaugural celebration began at Arlington, where he and Pence stood at attention as a bugler played taps at the Tomb of the Unknowns. *****’s wife, children and grandchildren silently looked on.

From there, ***** shuttled to a celebratory welcome ******* on the steps of Lincoln Memorial that ended with filling the evening sky.

The *******, open to the public, offered headliners including country star Toby Keith, soul’s Sam Moore and rockers 3 Doors Down. But not singer Jennifer Holliday: She backed out after an outcry from ***** critics.

“This is some day, dear friends,” actor Jon Voight told the crowd, casting *****’s impending inauguration as evidence of divine intervention after “a parade of propaganda that left us all breathless with anticipation, not knowing if God could reverse all the negative lies against Mr. *****.”

The crowd sent up a cheer when the giant screens flashed video of ***** singing along as Lee Greenwood delivered his signature “God Bless the U.S. A.”

***** declared such a ******* had a never been done before. In fact, a number of past presidents have staged inaugural concerts among the monuments.

***** spokesman Sean Spicer said the president-elect was still making “edits and additions” to the inaugural address he’ll deliver at Friday’s swearing-in.

Never mind about *****’s gilded private plane: He made his Washington entrance on a Boeing 757 that is part of the fleet of military planes that become Air Force One whenever the president is aboard. The president-elect, who came to Washington without any press on his plane, was joined on the trip by a gaggle of children, grandchildren and other members of his extended family. Also spotted: bags of dresses and formalwear for the coming days’ festivities.

At the luncheon, ***** invited his future first lady to speak, and Melania ***** told the crowd, “Tomorrow we’re starting the work,” adding that “there’s ”a lot of possibility and a lot to take care of.“

************ made sure to work in a plug for his hotel, saying, “This is a gorgeous room. A total genius must have built this place.” Reporters covering *****’s remark were removed from the room before the president-elect finished speaking.

Ebullient ***** fans were ready for a three-day party.

“We’re hoping for good weather and hoping for some unity,” said Jon-Paul Oldham, a firefighter who came from Thomaston, Connecticut. He said everyone should want ***** to succeed.

“Wanting him to fail is like wanting the plane to ***** but you’re on the plane,” Oldham said.

New York Republicans smushed into a downtown hotel ballroom to hear former House Speaker Newt Gingrich size up what he promised would be “a remarkable couple of days.”

“Certainly this is the inauguration that no one in the news media was ready for,” Gingrich said.

It does appear it may rain on *****’s parade, though.

With rain in the forecast, the National Park Service announced that it was easing its “no umbrella” policy for Friday, allowing collapsible umbrellas along the parade route and on the National Mall.

Timeline of Friday’s events as ************ is inaugurated president of the United States (all times EST):

BEFORE THE CEREMONY

8:30 a.m.: Donald and Melania ***** attend service at St. John’s ******

9:40 a.m.: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome the Trumps to the White House

9:45 a.m.: Obamas host a coffee and tea reception for the Trumps.

10:30 a.m.: Trumps, Obamas leave White House for U.S. Capitol

AT THE CAPITOL

11:16 a.m.: Sen. Roy Blunt, Inaugural Committee Chairman, delivers opening remarks

11:21 a.m.: Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez and Pastor Paula White-Cain deliver invocations

11:30 a.m.: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer delivers remarks

11:35 a.m.: Vice-Presidential oath is administered by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas

11:47 a.m.: Presidential oath is administered by Chief Justice John Roberts

11:51 a.m.: President ************ delivers inaugural address

12:12 p.m.: Rabbi Marvin Hier, Rev. Franklin Graham and Bishop Wayne T. Jackson deliver benedictions

12:18 p.m.: Jackie Evancho performs the National Anthem

AFTER THE CEREMONY

12:30 p.m.: Obama departs by helicopter from East Front

12:54 p.m.: President’s Room signing ceremony

1:08 p.m.: Luncheon

2:35 p.m.: Review of the troops

3 p.m.: Parade from the Capitol to the White House

7 p.m.: Inaugural balls get underway






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