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Donald Trump promised to act with “historic speed and strength” to end “American decline” as he addressed a jubilant crowd of supporters in Washington on the eve of his return to the White House.
“Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” Trump told the thousands gathered in the city’s Capital One Arena. “I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every crisis facing our country.”
The speech marked Trump’s first time addressing a crowd in Washington since the January 6 riots of 2021, when his supporters stormed the Capitol building in a failed bid to overturn Joe Biden’s election as president.
It reprised many of the dark campaign themes that won him a second term in office, touching on open borders, rampant crime and radical-left indoctrination, as well as foreshadowing a flurry of executive orders following his inauguration on Monday.
“Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take office,” Trump promised to cheers.
He pledged executive orders to deport immigrants, deregulate oil and gas production, pardon January 6 rioters, restrict transgender athletes’ involvement in sports and roll back diversity initiatives.
Trump also promised to declassify records on the assassinations of John F Kennedy, his brother Robert and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
In contrast to the events of four years ago, the mood among the Maga faithful on Sunday was jubilant as they braced for what they hoped would be sweeping change in America during Trump’s second term.
“I was very impressed with the plans that he has, especially that he wants to sign 100 executive orders on the first day,” said Elizabeth Nottingham, a 59-year-old energy consultant who had flown from Oklahoma to Washington. “I think that’s going to be very important.”
She said the speech reinforced her optimism that Trump’s return to the White House would be a boon for ordinary Americans. “We’re not the top 1 per cent in society. We’re small business owners . . . and so now I feel confident that President Donald Trump will keep those taxes low and do things necessary to help the economy,” she said.
Nottingham was among thousands of Trump supporters who had travelled from across the county, braving sleet, snow and freezing temperatures in the US capital, to attend Sunday’s “victory rally”.
“I’m here to see something historic,” said Anthony Tellier, a 24-year-old student from Long Island who said freedom of speech had been curtailed under Biden’s presidency. “My biggest problem over the last four years . . . is if you say anything that even leans slightly to the right, you’re looked at as a pariah. Trump will bring a more open discourse.”
In a wide-ranging speech typical of his campaign rallies, Trump took credit for restoring TikTok, freeing Israeli hostages in Gaza and bolstering the stock market before even taking office.
He also said Apple chief Tim Cook had told him on Sunday the tech group would make a “massive investment in the United States” as a result of his victory.
“We’ve achieved more without being president than they achieved in four years with being president,” Trump told the crowd. “Just imagine all of the good things that we’ll accomplish together with four more years in the White House.”
Many had spent hours queueing outside the hockey and basketball stadium as vendors sold Maga merchandise and Trump paraphernalia.
“I’m here to make America great again and do my part,” said Andrew Gardiner, a 44-year-old defence contractor from New Braunfels, Texas. “I think we’re made of good stuff and I think we have something to stand for. And we don’t need to feel bad for ourselves. We need to be proud and strong and good.”
Ahead of Trump’s address, musician Kid Rock, Ultimate Fighting Championship chief Dana White and actor Jon Voight were among the celebrities who fired up the crowd, many of whom were wearing red “Make America Great Again” baseball caps.
Alice Turner from Alexandria, Virginia, said she had signed up to volunteer at the event to “give back” to the president and hoped he would quickly roll out his agenda on everything from immigration to the economy.
“I’m just looking for justice. I’m looking for the border to be closed, better security and the J-Sixers to get out,” she said, referring to the January 6 rioters. “I’m just very hopeful.”
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