US president-elect Donald Trump has held a campaign-style rally on the eve of his inauguration, which included famous faces and free-wheeling speeches featuring controversial claims and sweeping promises.
With supporters lining up in sub-zero conditions to get a seat, Trump used his time on stage to provide a preview of what the first day of his second term in office might look like.
Trump to repeal ‘every radical and foolish executive’
Just hours from being sworn into office, Trump used his time on stage to lay out his plans for day one.
Donald Trump at the rally prior to his inauguration. (Reuters: Carlos Barria)
He told the crowd they would have a “lot of fun watching television” as he begins the process of repealing executive orders made during the Biden presidency.
“Somebody said yesterday, ‘Sir, don’t sign so many in one day, let’s do it over a period of weeks,'” he said.
“I said, ‘Like hell, we’re going to do it over weeks, we’re going to sign them at the beginning.'”
He said his plan involved handing education “back to the states”, which will allow them to enforce their own policies — a proposal put forward by Project 2025.
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He also committed to releasing records related to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, his brother Robert F Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
TikTok front of mind
Social media app TikTok has become a hot political issue as Trump returns to the presidency after it shut down to comply with a national ban.
“As of today, TikTok is back,” Trump told the rally, adding he believes it helped with him the “youth vote” at the election.
“I like it. I had a slightly good experience,” he says.
“Frankly, we have to save it. A lot of jobs.”
Illegal immigration rhetoric continues
In a wide-ranging speech, Trump said a key focus of his presidency would be sealing the US border with Mexico.
He said he would go into further detail during his inauguration address about his “aggressive and sweeping efforts” to close the US border.
Donald Trump spoke with supporters at his victory rally. (AP: Alex Brandon)
Trump said his administration would deal with immigrants moving across the border who were “probably worse than Hannibal Lecter”.
“We’re taking in people that shouldn’t be here,” he claims.
“They come in from prisons, from jails — they shouldn’t be here — from mental institutions…”
He repeated false claims immigrants were responsible for a significant amount of crime in the US.
It is rhetoric the MAGA movement has leant on throughout Trump’s candidacy, particularly around the murder of college student Laken Riley by an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela last year.
Trump was supported by his incoming deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, who said he believed the new president would sign an executive order on immigration shortly after taking office.
He said it would “end the border invasion, sending the illegals home and [take] America back”.
Musk and ‘little X’ summoned
A now regular roster of familiar faces who have previously expressed their support for the incoming president were on hand to help rev up the crowd.
UFC boss Dana White — who spoke at the Republican National Convention and was recently elected to Meta’s board of directors — heaped praise on the incoming president, hailing Trump’s “incredible comeback story”.
“Think of all the things President Trump had to go through to get back here,” Mr White said.
“All the powerful forces that tried to take him down: the mainstream media, partisan prosecutors, assassins! It’s absolutely insane what this man has gone through.”
Actor and newly minted Hollywood “special ambassador” Jon Voight called Trump’s victory in the November poll “the great win of all time”.
Elon Musk and his young son were invited up on stage. (Reuters: Elizabeth Frantz)
Tech billionaire Elon Musk — who will head up the new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE — was summoned onstage by Trump to give what sounded like an impromptu speech.
“So, we’re looking, we’re looking forward to making a lot of changes, and you know, this victory is the start, really,” Mr Musk said.
He was joined by his four-year-old son X Æ A-Xii, who Mr Musk referred to as “little X”.
Arctic blast chills supporters
People gathering to celebrate the pre-inauguration rally were greeted with freezing temperatures, rain and even light snow.
Supporters waited outside the doors of the Capital One Arena, some for hours at a time in minus 4 degrees Celsius weather.
Carolina Jerez and Efren Delgado rugged up outside the rally, braving the cold. (Carrington Clarke)
The weather offered an insight into plans for the inauguration, which has been moved indoors for the first time in 40 years.
The weather forecast is expected to drop to minus 7C on the day, and will feel even colder due to the wind chill.
Despite the harsh weather, thousands packed the arena to hear Trump lay out the tone for the next four years.
It takes a village
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Closing out the rally were the members of the Village People, who bounded onto the stage in their famous costumes to join the incoming president.
Standing in a line, with Trump in the middle, the band performed their hit YMCA, which was on high rotation during his campaign rallies.
As the Village People threw their arms in the air during the famous chorus, Trump pumped his fists back and forth, before clapping and mouthing to the crowd “thank you”.
