Yahoo Diaries: The 2017 Inauguration
Yahoo News enlisted three participants visiting the the 2017 presidential inauguration to be our eyes and ears on the ground while Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. Get an inside look at yesterday’s historic event as these unique voices take us through their experiences. Using journal entries and video, our correspondents gave us a first-person look at the inaugural proceedings. From the crowds to the balls, this coverage will make you feel as if you were there.
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 5 a.m.
Hi everyone! My name is Amanda and I’m a 22-year-old recent college graduate from Long Island, N.Y. I’ve been a big Trump supporter since the very beginning. This year was my first time voting, and I couldn’t have picked a better candidate. My family and I all believe in Mr. Trump, especially the way he’s looking at for small business owners. My family and I really believe in protecting small businesses.
I just got on the bus with some family, friends and a bunch of Trump supporters from Long Island to head down to Washington, D.C., to watch the inauguration! The bus just left and it’s going to be a long, roughly five-hour ride down. It was rough waking up at 3 a.m. to be here on time, but I did it! I’m NOT a morning person, and I wouldn’t do this for anyone but our new president, Donald Trump! I can’t wait to get there and experience this once in a lifetime event. It’s finally the day to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 10:45 a.m.
We just got off the bus about 10 minutes ago and were in a rush to find our way to the capital for the inauguration! We just jumped on the subway to head to the Capitol to pick up our tickets from Rep. Lee Zeldin’s office! We have T-minus 45 minutes until the ceremony begins, so I’ll be racing down the streets of Washington, D.C., so I don’t miss a second of it! Can’t wait to see Donald Trump be sworn in as president of the United States!!
Forty-five minutes later, we finally made it to our spots as the ceremony began! As we said a prayer together to begin the inauguration, you could just feel a sense of unity. It honestly brings me so much pride and joy to be here, ready for the big moment. It’s freezing outside but the adrenaline is keeping me warm. There’s such an exciting and positive vibe in the air of everyone just waiting to see history being made. Everyone’s chanting for Trump, chanting for the United States, chanting to build the wall! You can just feel how powerful this movement really is.
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 12:15 p.m.
It has finally happened. Donald Trump is now officially our president. I feel a tremendous amount of pride. His speech was such a positive message promising to return the power to the people. Everyone was cheering and the other Trump supporters were so nice, friendly and in such good spirits. The whole ceremony brought tears to my eyes because it was so powerful! When the president ended his speech I truly believed it in my heart that he meant it when he will make America Great Again!!!
A little less than two hours later, I walked three miles to find my way to the White House, but it was all pretty blocked off, so we took a little detour to see the Lincoln Memorial and its reflecting pool. It’s even more beautiful than I expected! I’ve never been to Washington, D.C., before, so I’ve never seen all these historical buildings and landmarks. Along the way we saw the the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. I just had my very first experience of a helicopter flying right above my head — I feel like I could see the people inside. Although my feet are absolutely killing me, this is definitely all worth it! I hope to catch a glimpse of the parade before I have to hop back on the bus to head back to Long Island.
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 3:14 p.m.
We’re now headed back to the buses and our day is coming to an end. I can’t begin to express how blessed I feel for the opportunity to be here in Washington, D.C., to see such a monumental moment in American history!!
And honestly, I feel so unbelievably honored to have been able to see Donald Trump officially become our president of the United States. As a young, millennial, Republican woman, I can’t wait for President Trump to put his plan into action and start working for ALL the American people. I know in my heart he will fulfill each and every promise that was made throughout his entire campaign. We are going to see a positive change in our country that a lot of Americans have been waiting for, and for a long time.
It was cold and rainy, but it was still an awesome day. I wish we didn’t have to leave so early, so we could have watched the parade and explored the city a little more, because there was so much to see. It’s going to be a long, six-hour ride back to Long Island, but I’m pretty pumped to take a nap and enjoy the ride. We walked about 10 miles all together today in the cold, but it was worth every second of it! I’m so thankful for the opportunity to share my day with everyone through Yahoo News! And I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did!
— Amanda Rose for Yahoo News
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Jan. 19, 2017 — 1 p.m.
Hello. My name is Shannon Matthew Moore. I am an attorney from Huntsville, Ala., and I am on the way to the inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017. I am traveling to Washington by van with my brother and friends from the Madison County Young Republicans. It’s about a 700-mile drive for us, which equates to about a 10- or more hour drive. Everyone in our group is excited and looks forward to this historic occasion.
I was a Trump supporter from the very beginning and had the honor to be a Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention last year. I have been involved in many political campaigns over the years in a variety of ways, from going door to door for candidates, to helping run a campaign, to running myself. I closely follow politics, the way others might follow sports. Of course, as an attorney, my time is often used up by work, but when I have the opportunity I also enjoy traveling, collecting antiques, old books, rocks and fossils, and other interesting odds and ends. Traveling is something I try to do as often as possible, as I love seeing new sights, people, places and culture.
I realize how momentous this occasion is, and others in our group have also expressed similar sentiments. To travel to Washington and see the inauguration in person is a great opportunity for each and every one of us. This is one of those experiences that we will remember for the rest of our lives, and there is a growing sense of excitement as we get closer and closer to our destination. There are some in our group who will be seeing Washington for the first time, and I can only imagine the wonder they will feel when they see the monuments, the Capitol, the statues and the general pageantry of the city in its inaugural best. This is heart of America and the sense of patriotism and history is present everywhere.
Historians often reflect on the significance of our presidential elections and the transfer of power from one administration to another on Inauguration Day. I once again feel a profound sense of thankfulness that I will witness such an event in person, that I live in this great country, and that the American spirit continues to thrive.
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Jan. 19, 2017 — 11:30 p.m.
We attended the South Carolina ball tonight. It was an awesome evening with great food and entertainment. It was held at National Gallery of Art and we got a chance to tour it while there, seeing some of our nation’s artistic treasures. Everyone had a good time.
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 10:05 a.m.
Only a few short hours before Donald Trump takes the oath of office. The crowds are building and everywhere you look is a sea of humanity. A light rain has been falling throughout the morning, and many people have broken out the ponchos.
Temperatures are hovering in the low 40s. Large screens dot the landscape, projecting the inauguration for those farther out from the Capitol. I have talked with people from all over the country who are assembling here with their own unique stories regarding the election. It’s exciting, historic and patriotic.
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Jan 20, 2017 – 12:25 p.m.
The inauguration has just concluded, and it’s been an awesome day out here on Capitol Hill. The enthusiasm, the patriotism and the spirit have been alive today. The crowd roared as the new president took the oath of office. It’s been historic, patriotic and notable.
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 5:45 p.m.
It’s a disappointment to see inauguration protests turn violent. Our rights come with great responsibility. Protests should never involve violence. This was a special and patriotic day, and a time to celebrate our country — not abuse political rights.
As an attorney, I can appreciate our rights to vote, to freedom of speech and to assemble. But I would urge people to remember that our freedoms were granted to us by our forefathers through great sacrifice, and that we as a people need to understand and remember that sacrifice.
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Jan. 20, 2017 – 7:45 p.m.
It’s been an interesting and historic day here in Washington. I am honored to have had the opportunity to have been here, and to have seen this remarkable, historic presidential transition. I hope everyone has learned a little bit about the American political process and the American political pageant that we have every four years here in Washington, D.C.
— Shannon Moore for Yahoo News
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Jan. 19, 2017 — 6:38 a.m.
My name is Mike Banerian. I’m the youth vice-chair for the Michigan Republican Party and was one of Michigan’s 16 presidential electors for the 2016 election.
Just sat down in my seat on our plane. I am leaving from Detroit, and I have one layover before arriving in Washington, D.C. I’m exhausted, as I woke up at 3:30 a.m. for our 7 a.m. flight, slept no more than an hour — and I have a long day ahead of me. We have a gala tonight in honor of Michigan native Betsy DeVos, who will likely be the new secretary of education; I’m really looking forward to that. There should be a lot of influential Republicans at that event, from our congressional delegation to our many state Republican officials. So many people in Michigan have put so much work to help elect Donald Trump as president and deliver Michigan for Republicans for the first time in nearly 30 years. I cannot wait to take the time to celebrate with all of them on such an incredible victory. I am very excited overall. This is my first inauguration, and it just seems like there are a million things to do. I’m hoping to catch some shut-eye on the flight, then off to the day’s events!
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Jan. 19, 2017 — 5:15 p.m.
We finally made it to the dinner honoring education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos. The security in D.C. is crazy — they continue to close off streets one at a time, making the traffic congestion unbearable. After spending 30 minutes stalled in our Uber, my friend and I jumped out in the middle of the road and walked the rest of the way.
The place they are holding this event is incredible. There is such an electric atmosphere, and the folks at the Michigan Republican Party really did a great job putting together this event. I bumped into a bunch of friends, including the newly elected RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel. She is an incredible person, and I had the honor of working with her over the past two years when she was chair of the Michigan Republican Party. The national Republican Party’s future is bright with her at the helm. The highlight of the evening, however. was chatting with Betsy DeVos, and being able to tell her how much I appreciate all she does, and how, despite what the media has been saying, I thought she did a fine job during her Senate hearing. After the event we headed back to our hotel … and I bumped into Vermin Supreme, the perennial political candidate and performance artist. Night made!
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 6 a.m.
It’s early in the morning, and we are in our seats at the swearing-in, front and center! We woke up at 4:30 a.m. to get here on time, security was very thorough, but surprisingly painless. There is a ton of excitement going around, and a lot of electricity in the air. We have great view from our seats. A lot of people are coming in, I think they are expecting close to a million. Can’t wait for the swearing-in to begin!
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 12:18 p.m.
The ceremony is now over, and I feel like I have just witnessed a point in American history that may never occur again. We have a president who’s a true outsider and who has potential to do amazing things for this nation. I only wish him the best!
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 5:30 p.m.
Right now, I’m at the Michigan governor’s event honoring Ronna Romney McDaniel, the new chair of the RNC. This event is incredible! It’s early in the evening and we just got here. I bumped into Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker when I walked in, and got to chat with Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. Rona Romney McDaniel spoke and fired up the crowd — the future of our party is in good hands.
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Jan. 20, 2017 — 8 p.m.
We’ve just arrived at the National Museum of American History, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, for the Michigan Inaugural Gala! It’s incredible in here, with great music, great food and great people. This is a celebration of so many things, from delivering Michigan to a Republican presidential nominee for the first time in nearly 30 years, to the election of our State Party Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel to RNC chair! This has been a blast of a trip, and I’m looking forward to finishing it out by celebrating with my fellow Michigan Republicans for the rest of the night. God Bless you guys, and God Bless this amazing country of ours!
– Michael Banerian for Yahoo News
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