Butler County residents describe crowds, atmosphere in DC
WASHINGTON — Arriving at the Shady Grove station on the red line just outside Washington for the presidential inauguration Monday, Jan. 20, came with both a sigh of relief and a jolt of energy for Butler Republicans who made the trip. Record-low Inauguration Day temperatures and unplowed highways didn’t deter them from heading to the Capitol.
Next came quick decision making: where to go?
There had been mass confusion over Inauguration Day plans after festivities were moved indoors due to dangerously cold temperatures. Attendees had to decide where to go and whether to wait in line outside Capitol One Arena for hours knowing they may not get in.
The environment in Washington on Monday was a hectic one, with exhaustive security measures and freezing temperatures to go along with hordes of visitors to the city.
While Capitol One Arena can hold just over 20,000 spectators, reports from earlier in the week indicated more than 200,000 people had purchased tickets for the inauguration.
The National Park Service previously said it would not be able to provide a total estimate for the adjusted inauguration events near the arena.
With a perimeter set up at least four blocks in each direction from the arena, the crowd had to line up around several blocks in the Chinatown and Penn Quarter neighborhoods of Washington between the White House and the U.S. Capitol Building. Streets and shops were closed amid the sudden crowd surge.
Security at the Capitol, where President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were sworn in, was even more strict, with visitors unable to get near the Capitol grounds.
Several police officers said anybody who originally had bought a ticket could get in line despite the size of the arena. It became clear those without tickets were also trying to get in, with some seen trying to hop over railings set up to keep away the crowd.
Tammy Bowser, a Butler County native who attended the rally with her daughter Summer, bolted from the metro station at Judiciary Square straight to the line to get in.
“We got in and were with a large group of people,” Bowser said. “One was from South Dakota, one was from North Carolina, there was a couple from Tennessee, I believe. We were all there, everyone was happy, and we followed the long line to get in.”
Security appeared to be inconsistent. While some people were not allowed into the arena with their bags, others were. This was despite guards and officers telling attendees bags were permitted. Online updates the day before said attendees could have a 12-inch x 12-inch x 5-inch bag with them.
Near the security checkpoint, about two blocks from the arena, piles of trash littered the street from attendees who had to give up items they’d been carrying.
Throughout the city, especially the neighborhoods surrounding Capitol One Arena, hundreds of variations of Trump-themed outfits made up the fashion for the day.
By the time of the swearing-in at noon, visitors filled local bars and restaurants. Thousands of others in line watched the ceremony on a screen outside the arena if they were close enough.
“I think it’s such a beautiful thing,” said Tyler Parker, a New Jersey resident who grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania. “It feels like Christmas morning, there’s a sense of joy no matter where you go, there’s a spark of energy that feels uplifting today.”
Throughout the day, scattered protesters yelled out, even during the swearing-in. These ranged from progressive, anti-Trump messages to religious demonstrators who didn’t appear to support or oppose Trump, instead shouting against abortion and sin.
While many watched the speeches on their phones, a majority of the crowd did not seem fully interested in listening to Trump’s speech after he was sworn in. They were just there to enjoy the day.
People had a wide range of reasons for supporting Trump. Some talked about believing he will “clean up” crime or illegal immigration; while others mentioned vague ideas about transgender issues.
Others expressed very particular reasons for supporting Trump and celebrating his election.
“For me this is pretty significant because I’m a big Bitcoin guy, and I’d like to see that he builds a strategic Bitcoin reserve,” said Ryan Krist from Hampton Township. “Honestly, I didn’t expect this many people to be here, this is pretty cool. It’s sad that the inauguration didn’t happen outside, because there was no chance of me getting in. But I’m very fortunate to be here in D.C. at this time, and to see all of this going on and everyone supporting him.”
The parade took place inside Capitol One Arena. During the parade, Trump indulged spectators by signing his first batch of executive orders, including withdrawing from climate agreements and pardoning participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection during the certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The energy was palpable throughout Washington. While thousands poured in around the arena, protests elsewhere occurred in the district, such as a pro-Palestine one at Dupont Circle. Meanwhile, Washington residents went about their day, arriving and departing from Union Station near the Capitol just as any other day.
