President-elect Donald Trump dances with Village People at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON — US President-elect Donald Trump danced to “YMCA” with Village People at his victory rally Sunday night in Washington DC on the eve of his inauguration.
Tens of thousands of MAGA supporters flocked to the nation’s capital for the rally, offering a preview of his plans for his first day in office.
The Capital One Arena, which accommodates only 20,000 people, was the focal point of the gathering, leading many to scramble for entry.
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Some supporters camped out overnight to secure front-row seats. Despite pouring rain and occasional hail, those equipped with umbrellas and raincoats braved the freezing temperatures, displaying unwavering enthusiasm during the long wait.
Inside the arena, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd chanted “USA! USA! USA!” as if the hours spent queuing in the cold were mere inconveniences compared to the excitement of the moment.
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Photo by Elton Lugay
The rally featured a mix of entertainment and speeches. Kid Rock kicked things off with a rock performance of “Sweet Home Alabama,” expressing his belief that Trump has garnered support from celebrities because “it’s safe” to do so now.
ADVERTISEMENTKid Rock performs at the victory rally. Photo by Elton Lugay
Conservative actor Jon Voight, recently appointed by Trump as his “Hollywood ambassador,” celebrated Trump’s victory as the “greatest victory of all time.”
Voight expressed pride in Trump’s efforts to restore American values, declaring, “I’m proud to call the President of the United States my friend.”
Jon Voight says Trump’s victory is the ‘greatest victory of all time.’ Photo by Elton Lugay
Incoming White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller proclaimed that the MAGA movement is “stronger, more powerful, more united and more determined than ever.”
ADVERTISEMENTHe promised an executive order addressing border issues and reflected on the challenges Trump faced from Democrats, asserting, “We are about to get our country back and our democracy back.”
Stephen Miller says the MAGA movement is ‘stronger, more powerful, more united and more determined than ever.’ Photo by Elton Lugay
Political pundit Megyn Kelly took the opportunity to mock Vice President Kamala Harris and other liberal figures while celebrating Trump’s victory.
She joked about J. Lo’s candidate losing, ridiculed Harris for her perceived inauthenticity and imitated Oprah Winfrey urging voters to support Harris.
Kelly emphasized that “change is coming” and encouraged her audience to remain strong, stating, “We haven’t won the war. We’re winning.”
Megyn Kelly and her family/Photo by Elton Lugay
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, credited the incoming president with securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
“We have a great team, but it doesn’t happen without Donald J. Trump,” he emphasized, highlighting the president’s crucial role in the agreement reached after 15 months of conflict.
Just minutes before Trump took the stage, his family made a brief appearance. Eric and Lara Trump brought their two children on stage to lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Eric praised the moment as a representation of “real America,” while Lara lauded her father-in-law, calling him the man “who will save the entire world.”
Donald Trump Jr. expressed gratitude to the audience for their loyalty, likening Inauguration Day to a combination of Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and his birthday.
Photo ny Elton Lugay
Donald Trump Jr./Photo by Elton Lugay
As President-elect Trump made his grand entrance, walking down the aisle to the performance of “God Bless America” by 82-year-old country legend Lee Greenwood, the excitement in the arena reached a peak.
In his hour-long speech, the 47th president offered countless thanks to his MAGA supporters and promised an unprecedented 100 executive orders on his first day in office.
“You’re going to see executive orders that are going to make you extremely happy. Lots of them,” he told the cheering crowd.
Photo by Elton Lugay
To emphasize his long-promised crackdown on undocumented immigrants, Trump screened a video about a violent Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, which he has vowed to combat.
He also hinted at upcoming action on clemency for individuals charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, stating, “Tomorrow, everyone in this very large arena will be very happy with my decision on the J6 hostages.”
Trump announced that TikTok would soon come back online, confirming plans to halt enforcement of a ban against the app while expecting his administration to broker a sale to secure partial American ownership.
Regarding the California wildfires, Trump stated he would fly to California on Friday to assess the damage caused by the massive fires.
“We’re going to get some of the best builders in the world,” he promised, referring to plans for reconstruction in and around Los Angeles.
slot machine casino gamesHe concluded his speech with a commitment to crack down on the border, eliminate “divisive diversity, equity and inclusion mandates” across government, and repeal President Joe Biden’s executive orders.
In a fitting finale, Village People joined Trump on stage to perform their signature song “YMCA,” with the president dancing with the legendary group.
Trump dances to ‘YMCA’ with Village People. Photo by Elton Lugay
Due to frigid temperatures, the Jan. 20 inauguration has been moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, which has a capacity of only 600.
To accommodate the crowd, Trump ordered the Capital One Arena to open its doors, allowing at least 20,000 MAGA supporters to attend.
Following the inauguration ceremony at the Capitol, the president-elect is expected to proceed to the arena for the inaugural parade.
You may like: Trump inauguration: What to know about the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20
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