Thousands of Trump supporters gather for pre-inauguration victory rally in Washington

The “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” in honor of President-elect Donald Trump was being held on Sunday at an indoor stadium in Washington, Capital One Arena. The inauguration is scheduled for noon local time (1700 GMT) on Monday, when Trump will take the presidential oath of office inside the rotunda of the Capitol building.

Thousands of Donald Trump’s supporters waited for hours in the cold and rain to attend his victory rally on Sunday, a day before the president-elect returns to power with plans to aggressively reshape U.S. immigration and trade policy.

The Republican, 78, placed a wreath first at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on Sunday before making his first major speech in Washington since a Jan. 6, 2021, rally with his supporters that preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Trump saluted the tomb as a military bugler played “Taps.”

The “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” was due to start at 3 p.m. ET (2000 GMT) at Capital One Arena, an indoor hockey and basketball stadium and the venue for some of Monday’s inauguration festivities after forecasts of bitter cold prompted officials to cancel a planned outdoor celebration.

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The line of supporters, many dressed in Trump’s trademark red jackets and MAGA hats, stretched over several downtown Washington blocks. Some chanted “USA! USA!” and others spoke over megaphones while they waited to be allowed in.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said.

(Reuters)


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