Senate confirms first wave of Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees
The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump‘s first Cabinet member Friday evening, formally approving retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to be his defense secretary. Less than twenty minutes later, they confirmed retired Marine Gen. John Kelly to be his secretary of Homeland Security. The final vote to confirm Mattis was 98-1 with New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand being the sole senator to vote against him. Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions — Trump’s nominee for attorney general — chose to abstain from the vote. Lawmakers voted 88-11 in favor of Kelly, who succeeds Obama’s DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson. Kelly previously served as commander of U.S. Southern Command under President Barack Obama from 2012 until this January. Kentucky-Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also attemped to begin debate on Rep. Mike Pompeo’s Cabinet nomination as CIA Director following the Mattis and Kelly confirmations, but Oregon-Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden objected. “We need to confirm a new director today,” McConnell told his colleagues. “We need to confirm the rest of the Cabinet as quickly as we can.” Although Republicans have a Senate majority and will likely to confirm most, if not all, of Trump’s Cabinet, Democrats are able to slow the process by disagreeing to expedite Senate procedure. The Senate will instead begin the six-hour debate on Pompeo Monday. “No CIA director in history has ever been confirmed on Inauguration Day,” said Sens. Wyden, Patrick Leahy and Richard Blumenthal in a joint statement. “The importance of the position of CIA director, especially in these dangerous times, demands that the nomination be thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated.”
No American Covenant or New Frontier for this president. Donald Trump speaks of ‘American carnage.’
America is getting what it ordered on Election Day. If anyone was expecting an evolution from Donald Trump the candidate to Donald Trump the president, never mind. The new president delivered an inaugural address Friday that was straight from his campaign script — to the delight or dismay of different subsets of Americans. Trump gave nods to unity and began with kind words for Barack and Michelle Obama, but pivoted immediately to a searing indictment of the status quo and the Obama years. Presidents past have promised an American Covenant, a New Frontier, a Great Society. Trump sketched a vision of “American carnage.” Then he promised to end it with a nationalist “America First” approach to governing. It was a speech for Trump’s supporters, but maybe not those who voted for somebody else. When Trump told the crowd on the National Mall and watching from afar that “everyone is listening to you now” and spoke of a “historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before,” he seemed to harking back to his voters. “At some point, there has got to be a transference to being the leader of all the people,” said Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, though, heard “exactly the speech Trump needed to give to be the kind of president he wants to be.” “In a very workmanlike way, he was reasserting precisely the themes that had gotten him elected,” Gingrich said. “He is trying to communicate how he sees the next few years from his perspective: It will basically be pitched again and again as the people vs. the establishment, and it will be constant striving to reform the system.” In his 16-minute inaugural, Trump spoke in grim terms of families trapped in poverty, shuttered factories dotting the landscape like tombstones, of rampant crime, drugs and gangs. It was an echo of the bleak message he delivered at the Republican National Convention — and likewise short on specifics for how he will solve those problems. His pledge to make things better came wrapped as a nostalgic paean to better days long gone. “America will start winning again, winning like never before,” the new president said. “We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.” Nostalgia works for some Americans, but not all. “If you’re an African-American, 50 years ago doesn’t seem so great to you,” said Michael Gerson, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a frequent Trump critic. “You need some kind of vision for a future America.” The new president “amplifies resentments” in the name of pursuing change, said Gerson. “It’s always us vs. them.” Trump did directly take on the nation’s modern security challenges by giving a blanket promise to “eradicate completely from the face of the earth” the scourge of “Radical Islamic Terrorism” — a capitalized phrase that the Obama administration refused even to utter. But he’s given few details about how he’ll do that. Granted, inaugurals aren’t meant to be wonky policy speeches. But they must be backed by a plan of action to have oomph. As the new president took office, whitehouse.gov was filling up with policy pages that were long on broad goals and light on specifics. And the question marks about his policies on taxes, trade, immigration, terrorism and more are magnified by the sometimes contradictory policy pronouncements coming from his Cabinet nominees. Going into Friday’s address, Trump already had a lot of work to do to rally the nation behind him. Just 40 percent of Americans have a favorable view of him, far lower than any other president-elect’s popularity since at least the 1970s, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll. And if he can’t deliver on the bold promises of his inaugural, he’ll lose those he does have in his corner. “The speech is notable for laying down very specific markers by which his presidency will be assessed,” says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a communications professor and director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. “The categorical nature of those markers is going to be problematic for him.” Gingrich put it more bluntly: “If he keeps us safe and creates jobs, he will almost certainly be re-elected. If he can’t do those things, he’s in deep trouble.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Confrontation near Donald Trump’s parade route escalates, pepper spray used
Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump‘s inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers. Several spirited demonstrations unfolded peacefully at various security checkpoints near the Capitol as police helped ticket-holders get through to the inaugural ceremony. Signs read, “Resist Trump Climate Justice Now,” ”Let Freedom Ring,” ”Free Palestine.” But about a mile from the National Mall, police gave chase to a group of about 100 protesters who smashed the windows of downtown businesses including a Starbucks, a Bank of America and a McDonald’s as they denounced capitalism and Trump. Police in riot gear used pepper spray from large canisters and eventually cordoned off protesters at 12th and L streets in northwest Washington. The confrontation began an hour before Trump took the oath of office and escalated several hours later as the crowd of protesters swelled to more than 1,000, some wearing gas masks and with arms chained together inside PVC pipe. One said the demonstrators were “bringing in the cavalry.” When some crossed police lines, taunting, “Put the pigs in the ground,” police charged with batons and pepper spray, as well as stun grenades, which are used to shock and disperse crowds. Loud booms echoed through the streets about six blocks from where Trump would soon hold his inaugural parade. Some protesters picked up bricks and concrete from the sidewalk and hurled them at police lines. Some rolled large, metal trash cans at police. Police said in a statement that the group damaged vehicles, destroyed property and set small fires while armed with crowbars and hammers. Peter Newsham, the interim police chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said the group caused “significant damage” along a number of blocks and that more than 90 people were arrested and charged with rioting. Before Inauguration Day, the DisruptJ20 coalition, named after the date of the inauguration, had promised that people participating in its actions in Washington would attempt to shut down the celebrations, risking arrest when necessary. Earlier in the day, as guests were going in to the ceremony, lines for ticket-holders entering two gates stretched for blocks at one point as protesters clogged entrances. Trump supporter Brett Ecker said the protesters were frustrating but weren’t going to put a damper on his day. “They’re just here to stir up trouble,” said the 36-year-old public school teacher. “It upsets me a little bit that people choose to do this, but yet again, it’s one of the things I love about this country.” At one checkpoint, protesters wore orange jumpsuits with black hoods over their faces to represent prisoners in U.S. detention at Guantanamo Bay. Eleanor Goldfield, who helped organize the Disrupt J20 protest, said protesters wanted to show Trump and his “misguided, misinformed or just plain dangerous” supporters that they won’t be silent. Black Lives Matter and feminist groups also made their voices heard. Most Trump supporters walking to the inauguration past Union Station ignored protesters outside the train station, but not Doug Rahm, who engaged in a lengthy and sometimes profane yelling match with them. “Get a job,” said Rahm, a Bikers for Trump member from Philadelphia. “Stop crying, snowflakes, Trump won.” Outside the International Spy Museum, protesters in Russian hats ridiculed Trump’s praise of President Vladimir Putin, marching with signs calling Trump “Putin’s Puppet” and “Kremlin employee of the month.” More demonstrations were planned for later in the day. The “Festival of Resistance” march ran about 1.5 miles to McPherson Square, a park about three blocks from the White House, where a rally featuring the filmmaker and liberal activist Michael Moore was planned. Along the inaugural parade route, the ANSWER Coalition anti-war group planned demonstrations at two locations. Friday’s protests weren’t the first of the inauguration. On Thursday night, protesters and Trump supporters clashed outside a pro-Trump event in Washington. Police used chemical spray on some protesters in an effort to control the unruly crowd. The demonstrations won’t end when Trump takes up residence in the White House. A massive Women’s March on Washington is planned for Saturday. Christopher Geldart, the District of Columbia’s homeland security director, has said 1,800 buses have registered to park in the city Saturday, which could mean nearly 100,000 people coming in just by bus. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Martha Roby: Latest Cabinet picks encouraging for veterans, farmers
President Donald Trump continued to fill out key administration posts over the last week, including two positions that will have a significant impact on our district and state: Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has been nominated to serve as the next Secretary of Agriculture, which I believe is a strong selection that is good for Alabama. Agriculture is our state’s largest industry, and the policies carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) affect Alabama farmers in meaningful ways. Gov. Perdue was raised on a farm and built his career working in the agriculture industry. As the former governor of neighboring Georgia, Gov. Perdue brings valuable understanding of Alabama-produced commodities from peanuts and cotton to poultry and forestry. He’s been a longtime friend to farmers, and a friend of farmers is a friend of mine. It won’t be long until Congress begins crafting a new farm bill. As we do, I’m eager to work with Gov. Perdue to ensure that USDA programs and services adequately address the needs of farmers and rural communities in Alabama. For Secretary of Veterans Affairs, President Trump has tapped Dr. David Shulkin, who currently serves as VA Under Secretary for Health. Some criticized this nomination because, as a current VA official, Dr. Shulkin isn’t viewed as the “outsider” that many expected from the Trump Administration. I understand these concerns, and certainly no one has been more vocal than me about the need to clean house at the VA. However, it is important to remember that Dr. Shulkin is relatively new. He came in from the private sector to replace those who were dismissed in the wake of the national wait time scandal, so it’s not fair to pin all of the problems on him. I have met with Dr. Shulkin in my office and worked with him on VA reform legislation. He is a physician with a great deal of experience managing a large health care network. I believe he truly wants to reform the system, and we owe it to him to give him a chance to lead. Alabama’s 2nd District has one of the highest concentration of veterans in the country. We’ve made significant progress improving the Central Alabama VA that serves our area, but much more work remains. It is important for me to have relationships with top VA officials so that we can turn their attention to problems in Alabama when action is needed. Cabinet posts like Agriculture and Veterans Affairs might not come with the same fanfare as more visible roles like Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense, but they are critical posts for issues impacting those I represent. I look forward to working with both Gov. Perdue and Dr. Shulkin for the benefit of Alabama farmers and veterans. ••• Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband Riley and their two children.
Promises, pomp and protests as Donald Trump sworn in
Pledging to empower America’s “forgotten men and women,” Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, taking command of a deeply divided nation and ushering in an unpredictable era in Washington. His victory gives Republicans control of the White House for the first time in eight years. Looking out over the crowd sprawled across the National Mall, Trump painted a bleak picture of the nation he now leads, lamenting “American carnage,” shuttered factories and depleted U.S. leadership. President Barack Obama, the man he replaced, sat behind him stoically. Trump’s address lasted just 16 minutes. While his inauguration did draw crowds to the nation’s capital, the numbers appeared smaller than for past celebrations. Demonstrations unfolded at various security checkpoints near the Capitol as police helped ticket-holders get through. After the swearing-in, more protesters registered their rage in the streets of Washington. Police in riot gear deployed pepper spray and made numerous arrests after protesters smashed the windows of downtown businesses, denouncing capitalism and Trump. The new president’s first words as commander in chief were an unapologetic reprisal of the economic populism and nationalism that fueled his improbable campaign. He vowed to stir “new national pride,” bring jobs back to the United States, and “eradicate completely” Islamic terrorism. “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only, ‘America First,’” Trump said. His address lasted just 16 minutes. While Trump’s inauguration did draw crowds to the nation’s capital, the numbers appeared smaller than for past celebrations. In a remarkable scene, Trump ripped into Washington’s longtime leaders as he stood among them at the U.S. Capitol. For too long, he said, “a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.” For Republicans eager to be back in the White House, there was little mention of the party’s bedrock principles: small government, social conservativism and robust American leadership around the world. Trump, who is taking office as one of the most unpopular incoming presidents in modern history, made only oblique references to those who may be infuriated and fearful of his presidency. “To all Americans in every city near and far, small and large from mountain to mountain, from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again,” he said. The new president was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, reciting the 35-word oath with his hand placed upon two Bibles, one used by his family and another during President Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration. Trump and wife, Melania, bid Obama and outgoing first lady Michelle Obama farewell as they departed the Capitol grounds in a government helicopter. Trump and Obama’s political paths have been linked in remarkable ways. Before running for the White House, the billionaire businessman led efforts to promote falsehoods about the 44th president’s citizenship and claim on the office. Obama addressed a staff gathering at Joint Base Andrews before departing for a vacation in California. “You proved the power of hope,” he said. Trump’s journey to the inauguration was as unlikely as any in recent American history. He defied his party’s establishment, befuddled the media and toppled two political dynasties on his way to victory. His message, calling for a resurgence of white, working-class corners of America, was packaged in defiant stump speeches railing against political correctness. He used social media to dominate the national conversation and challenge conventions about political discourse. After years of Democratic control of the White House and deadlock in Washington, his was a blast of fresh air for millions. But Trump’s call for restrictive immigration measures and his caustic campaign rhetoric about women and minorities angered millions. And Trump’s swearing-in was shadowed by questions about his ties to Russia, which U.S. intelligence agencies have determined worked to tip the 2016 election in his favor. More than 60 House Democrats refused to attend his swearing in ceremony in the shadow of the Capitol dome. One Democrat who did sit among the dignitaries was Hillary Clinton, Trump’s vanquished campaign rival who was widely expected by both parties to be the one taking the oath of office. At a post-ceremony luncheon at the Capitol, Trump asked the Republicans and Democrats present to recognize her, and those in the room rose and applauded. At 70, Trump is the oldest person to be sworn in as president, marking a generational step backward after two terms for Obama, one of the youngest presidents to serve as commander in chief. Trump takes charge of an economy that has recovered from the Great Recession but has nonetheless left millions of Americans feeling left behind. The nation’s longest war is still being waged in Afghanistan and U.S. troops are battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The American health care system was expanded to reach millions more Americans during Obama’s tenure, but at considerable financial costs. Trump has vowed to dismantle and rebuild it. Trump faces challenges as the first president to take office without ever having held a political position or served in the military. He has stacked his Cabinet with established Washington figures and wealthy business leaders. Though his team’s conservative bent has been cheered by many Republicans, the overwhelmingly white and male Cabinet has been criticized for a lack of diversity. Before attending an inaugural luncheon, Trump signed his first series of orders, including the official nominations for his Cabinet. He joked with lawmakers, including House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, and handed out presidential pens. In a show of solidarity, all of the living American presidents attended Trump’s inaugural, except for 92-year-old George H.W. Bush, who was hospitalized this week with pneumonia. His wife, Barbara, was also admitted to the hospital after falling ill. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Alabama delegation reacts to inauguration of President Donald Trump
Donald Trump was sworn in Friday as the 45th president of the United States and following the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, Alabama’s congressional delegation responded by releasing congratulatory statements. Here’s what they had to say: U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby: The Inauguration is an extraordinary moment for our nation, and it was my great honor to attend the swearing-in of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. While Americans gather to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power that occurs in our democratic government, it is important to pause and reflect on the rich history of our great country. As our 45th President takes office today, I look forward to working with him and all of my colleagues to provide leadership for our nation. There are many challenges ahead, and it is time to get to work on behalf of the American people. Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne: Today marks the start of a new era for our country. President Trump outlined a clear vision for our country with a focus on supporting American workers and rebuilding the American dream. We face many serious challenges, but also exciting opportunities. I stand ready to work alongside President Trump and Vice President Pence to turn our country around. Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers: I was excited to attend the 58th Presidential Inauguration. President Trump’s inauguration was a truly historic event. With President Trump in office, the Congress has a unique opportunity to cut spending, repeal Obamacare, protect the rights of the unborn, and rebuild our military. The Inauguration was made especially great by the presence of Talladega’s own Talladega College Great Tornado band in the parade. I am looking forward to the president’s cabinet, including Alabama’s own Senator Sessions, being confirmed so we can get to work making America great again. Alabama 5th District U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks: Today is symbolic of America at its finest. Today is an historic day where the power of the presidency was peacefully transferred from one person to another, their radically different views notwithstanding. President Trump gave a great speech. As President Trump noted, ‘The time for empty talk in over. Now arrives the hour of action.’ I eagerly look forward to helping President Trump fulfill his campaign and inauguration speech promises by voting on legislation to repeal ObamaCare, make Mexico pay for an impenetrable border security wall, and restore America’s military and international reputation to greatness. Alabama 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer: I offer my congratulations and prayers to our 45th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, and Vice President, Mike Pence, as they serve the American people. This Administration has the opportunity to lead our country with dignity and to uphold the Constitution as our Founding Fathers intended almost 230 years ago. I look forward to working closely with President Trump and his Administration as we Make America Great Again.
Donald Trump hits campaign themes in inaugural speech
The Latest on Donald Trump‘s inauguration as the 45th president of the United States: 12:15 p.m. In his inauguration speech, President Donald Trump is repeating the dark vision and the list of the country’s woes that he hit on during the campaign. Trump describes closed factories as “tombstones” that dot the county and says the federal government has spent billions defending “other nations’ borders while refusing to defend our own.” The Republican president says the U.S. “will confront hardships but we will get the job done.” He says the oath of office he just took “is an oath of allegiance to all Americans” and said that the country will share “one glorious destiny.” ___ 12:14 p.m. President Donald Trump says Americans came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement “the likes of which the world has never seen before.” Trump says the United States exists to serve its citizens. He says Americans want great schools, safe neighborhoods and good jobs. But he says too many people face a different reality: rusted-out factories, a bad education system, crime, gangs and drugs. Trump says the “carnage stops right here and right now.” ___ 12:05 p.m. President Donald Trump is beginning his inaugural address by saying that “together we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come.” He says Americans have “joined a great national effort to build our country and restore its promise for all people.” It began to rain in Washington as Trump started speaking. Trump also thanked all of the past presidents in attendance, including former campaign foes Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. ___ 12 p.m. Donald Trump is now the 45th president of the United States. He’s just taken the oath of office on the West Front of the Capitol. The combative billionaire businessman and television celebrity won election in November over Democrat Hillary Clinton, and today he’s leading a profoundly divided country — one that’s split between Americans enthralled and horrified by his victory. The unorthodox politician and the Republican-controlled Congress are already charting a newly conservative course for the nation. And they’re promising to reverse the work of the 44th president, Barack Obama. Up next is Trump’s inaugural address — where the new commander in chief is expected to set out his vision for the country’s next four years. ___ 11:55 a.m. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath of office. President-elect Donald Trump chose Pence, the former governor of Indiana, as his running mate last summer. ___ 11:45 a.m. U.S. embassies and consulates in at least 10 nations in Asia, Europe and Latin America are warning of potentially violent protests through the weekend against the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president. Security notices posted by U.S. diplomatic missions in Chile, Denmark, France, Greece, Haiti, Italy the Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal and the Philippines advise American in those countries to steer clear of embassies and consulates on Friday and, in some cases, on Saturday and Sunday. That’s due to the possibility of unrest and clashes with police. The notices say the planned demonstrations are either focused on “U.S. politics” or are “inauguration-related.” ___ 11:32 a.m. President-elect Donald Trump has taken the stage for his inauguration. The Republican businessman from New York flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was introduced. Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence took the stage at the Capitol minutes after President Barack Obama and members of his family and administration. Trump will soon be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. ___ 11:30 a.m. Hundreds of people who worked for President Barack Obama are arriving at Andrews Air Force Base to hear some final parting words from the soon-to-be ex-president. Hours before Obama was to speak, former White House and administration staffers are gathering in a hangar where a small stage with a lone American flag was set up for him. Obama and his wife, Michelle, are leaving the Capitol by military helicopter after witnessing Donald Trump’s swearing-in, and they’re being flown to the base in Maryland just outside Washington. The Obamas will vacation in Palm Springs, California. ___ 11:25 a.m. The dais is filled for the inauguration on the West Front of the Capitol. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have taken their seats. And President-elect Donald Trump‘s family is ready. The stage is set for Donald Trump to be sworn in as the next president of the United States. ___ 11:20 a.m. In the crowd gathered on the National Mall for the inauguration, there’s no shortage of fans of Democratic figures. Big cheers went up when images were shown of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who ran for president against Hillary Clinton. But the biggest cheer so far for a Democrat has gone to first lady Michelle Obama. She received sustained applause as people watched her appear on the television screens. ___ 11:15 a.m. As Donald Trump and President Barack Obama made their way to the Capitol, police were confronting a group of demonstrators wearing black in downtown Washington and using what appeared to be pepper spray. Protesters were carrying signs denouncing capitalism and Trump. Police cordoned off about 100 demonstrators who chanted “hands up, don’t shoot.” A helicopter hovered overhead. ___ 11:10 a.m. President Barack Obama and his successor, Donald Trump, have arrived at the Capitol for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. Trump is joined by his family, including his five children Eric, Don Jr., Ivanka, Tiffany and youngest son, Barron. ___ 11:05 a.m. Incoming first lady Melania (meh-LAH’-nee-ah) Trump is wearing a sky blue cashmere jacket and mock turtleneck combination by Ralph Lauren for Inauguration Day. In a statement, the Lauren Corp. says: “It was important to us to uphold and celebrate the tradition of creating iconic American style for this moment.” Mrs. Trump’s hair is in a soft updo and accessorized with long suede gloves and matching stilettos. She was greeted at the White House by President Barack Obama
Alabama’s Terri Sewell to boycott Donald Trump inauguration
Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell has confirmed she will join over 60 of her Democratic colleagues and boycott the inauguration ceremony for America’s 45th President, Republican Donald Trump. Despite hailing from an overwhelmingly red state, Sewell is following her friend Georgia Congressman’s John Lewis’ lead and skipping the event. Citing Trump’s recent comments to Lewis as the reason she refuses to attend. “While I have a profound respect for the office of the president, and I accept the results of the election, I simply cannot accept the blatant disrespect shown by President-elect Trump towards American civil rights icon, my colleague, friend and mentor, the Honorable John Lewis,’’ Sewell said in a statement. Prayerfully, I have decided not to attend the inauguration. I simply cannot accept the blatant disrespect of @repjohnlewis. #IStandWithJohn — Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) January 18, 2017 Sewell continued, “This decision was reached with great deliberation because I am deeply saddened by the negative political rhetoric on both sides. We must move forward together. I sincerely hope that upon his ascension as our President, that President Trump will choose to build bridges, set aside differences and embrace John Lewis. In fact, there is a bridge in my district where we all can gain inspiration, and I invite President Trump and Congressman Lewis to join me in visiting Selma to walk hand-in-hand across that bridge as one nation, indivisible and united.” Recently, the Trump and Lewis found themselves in a middle of a political feud, resulting in Lewis announcing he would not attend Trump’s inauguration. Since then over 60 of his Congressional colleagues, including Sewell, have also opted out of the historic event. Sewell is however extending an olive branch to the president-elect and has invited him to Selma to join her and Lewis in crossing the Edmund Pettis Bridge, made famous on “Bloody Sunday.” There’s a bridge in my district we all can gain inspiration! I invite Trump & Lewis to join me in Selma to cross that bridge as one nation! — Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) January 18, 2017
As Donald Trump takes the oath, many voters still can’t believe it
On the morning 19 months ago when Donald Trump descended the escalator in his glitzy Manhattan tower, waving to onlookers who lined the rails, many Americans knew little about him beyond that he was very rich and had a thing for firing people on a reality television show. No one can plausibly say they knew that the man who launched his candidacy that day would be elected the nation’s 45th president. As Trump prepares to take the oath of office Friday, many Americans still can’t quite believe that a presidency that still seems almost bizarrely improbable becomes a reality on Friday. “I thought it was a joke. He’d run, he’d lose early and he’d be out,” said Christopher Thoms-Bauer, 20, a bookkeeper and college student from Bayonne, New Jersey, who originally backed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio‘s Republican candidacy. Then, Thoms-Bauer recalled, came the night in November when he joined friends in a diner after a New Jersey Devils hockey game and watched, stunned, as Trump eked out wins in key states. “Having this realization that he was really going to become president was really just a surreal moment,” said Thoms-Bauer, who gave his write-in vote to Evan McMullin, a former CIA agent who ran as a conservative alternative to Trump. “It still doesn’t make sense.” For all the country’s political divisions, plenty of people on both sides of the aisle share that disbelief. “I thought there was no way he could win,” said Crissy Bayless, a Rhode Island photographer who on Thursday tweeted a picture of the Statue of Liberty holding her face in her hands, despairing over Trump’s imminent inauguration. “How am I feeling? Wow.. disgusted. nauseous and honestly like I’m in a nightmare,” Bayless, 38, wrote in a conversation via email. When Barack Obama won the White House in 2008, the election of the nation’s first black president felt to many like one of the most improbable moments in the nation’s political history. The idea of the election of a white billionaire born of privilege feels implausible to many in very different ways — and that may say as much about the country as it does about Trump. When Trump announced his candidacy, Kayla Coursey recognized him as the developer who had tried and failed to build a golf course she’d opposed in her hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. She recalled him as stubborn and resistant to pressure from local residents and officials. That, she said made his candidacy for president feel like a joke. Trump’s election felt downright surreal, she said. In the weeks since, “there was always the hope that things will somehow magically become better. However, now we know (Friday) at noon we’re going to be welcoming President Trump, which is surreal in and of itself,” said Coursey, a college student in Roanoke, Virginia. David Sawyers, a 42-year-old truck unloader from Grindstone, Pennsylvania, who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary before voting for Trump, said the big crowds that turned out for the candidate’s rallies convinced him the billionaire could win. But he never felt certain, not when he recalled how Al Gore had won the popular vote in 2000, but lost the presidency to George W. Bush. “You follow history,” said Sawyers, who’s happy with the outcome, “and there are some points where you definitely know history is being made and tomorrow is one of those times.” Sawyers will be working during Friday’s inauguration, so he plans to record it and watch it later. But others said they remain so stunned by Trump’s election it will be best if they turn away. Tyler Wilcox, a 23-year-old musician in Riverton, Utah, has been dreading inauguration day. He lists his location on Twitter as “Not My President” and is planning to avoid all coverage of the ceremonies. “I just feel like it’s, I guess you can say, the beginning of the end,” he said. And Coursey, who identifies as “queer” and is deeply worried by the threat she believes Trump’s administration poses to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, said she would avoid joining other students in the dorm television lounge to watch the inauguration. “I’m concerned that I’d be just a crying mess in the corner, or that somebody would say something and I wouldn’t hold my tongue or I’d end up getting in some kind of a physical argument,” she said. Instead, Coursey said, she plans to search for a recording of Trump’s speech once it’s over, when she can watch it in private That way, she figures, she can pause it in uncomfortable moments when the presidency she never imagined becomes a little too real. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Despite campaign to-do list, Donald Trump team coy about his plans
Donald Trump campaigned on a detailed and extensive to-do list for his first day in office. A day before his swearing-in, his team was being coy about when and how he plans to cross items off it. As he’s assembled his new government, Trump has backed off some of his promised speed, downplaying the importance of a rapid-fire approach to complex issues that may involve negotiations with Congress or foreign leaders. On others issues, he’s affirmed his plan, indicating significant policy announcements may be teed up in the first hours and days of the Trump administration. On Thursday, transition spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump would issue two executive orders on trade soon. On his Day One list, Trump said he would formally declare the United States’ intention to withdraw from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which he vigorously opposed during his campaign as detrimental to U.S. businesses and workers. He also promised to declare his intention to renegotiate the 23-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement or withdraw from the deal. “I think you will see those happen very shortly,” Spicer said. Other issues likely to see early action include energy, where he’s likely to undo regulations on oil drilling and coal, and cybersecurity, where he has already said he will ask for a report on the strength of the nation’s cyber defenses within 90 days of taking office. He’s also made broad promises to upend immediately President Barack Obama‘s immigration policies, although some of those vows may be difficult to keep. The president-elect has said he sees Monday as the first big workday of his administration, his effective Day One. Trump said at his first post-election news conference last week that people would “have a very good time at the inauguration” but his team planned “some pretty good signings on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday, and then, also the next week.” The real estate mogul is expected to sign some paperwork on Friday. He must formally nominate members of his Cabinet, in order to allow some of them to be voted on by the Senate. The transition team has also said he may sign executive orders — some logistical, others focused on his agenda — that will kick off his administration. “Specifically we’ve focused in the president-elect’s direction on a Day One, Day 100 and Day 200 action plan for keeping our word to the American people and putting the president-elect’s promises into practice,” Vice President-elect Mike Pence said during a briefing with reporters on Thursday. Pence, who chaired Trump’s transition team, added: “We are all ready to go to work. We can’t wait to get to work for the American people.” Trump’s Day One plan was an ambitious and specific list. It includes proposing a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress, imposing a hiring freeze for federal workers, and beginning to remove immigrants who are criminals and living in the country unlawfully. The list includes “cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama.” Given Trump’s objections to many of Obama’s policies, that category could involve some dramatic changes. Among those would be cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which has protected about 750,000 young immigrants from deportation. The program also offered those immigrants work permits. If he makes good on his promise to terminate the program, Trump could choose to immediately cancel the deportation protection and revoke the work permits, or he could opt to block new enrollment and allow those already approved to keep their work permits until they expire. Trump has said he plans to focus immigration enforcement efforts first on criminals, a group he said could including 2 million to 3 million people. Trump also pledged to “move criminal aliens out day one” in operations with state, local and federal authorities. That promise will be harder to keep on his first few days in office. Jurisdictions around the country objected to helping enforce federal immigration laws. He will also face a shortage of jail space. The government has enough money to keep 34,000 people in immigration jails at a time and has recently detained more than 40,000 people because of a surge of immigrants arrested at the Mexican border last year. Also on Trump’s list was labeling China a currency manipulator. But Trump said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week that he no longer planned to do that on the first day. “I would talk to them first,” he said. If Trump opts for a slower pace, it may be because he is still setting up his administration. He is awaiting confirmation of Cabinet choices and staffing federal agencies and has left vital spots such as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers unfilled so far. Instead of unveiling an updated series of policies, Trump devoted part of his transition to meeting with prominent CEOs and touting jobs announcements by their companies. His team has also spent weeks reviewing Obama’s executive actions to determine which ones can be eliminated quickly. Trump’s team also faces the daunting process of naming a Supreme Court justice to fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Trump has said he will announce a nominee in about two weeks. Trump’s promises of swift changes have been cheered on by congressional Republicans, who have seen their agenda blocked by Obama for the past eight years. Pence and Trump aides have shared some details for the first few days with House leadership and told lawmakers to expect the incoming president to move quickly to undo Obama’s legacy. “There is a call of history and that calls us to put America back on the rails again,” said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, “and we’ve now been delivered the tools to do this by the voters.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Another inaugural tradition — prayer — under fire over Donald Trump
For years, the Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal parish with a dual role as a civic gathering place, has hosted a prayer service for the newly sworn-in president. But keeping the tradition this year has caused an uproar among Episcopalians opposed to President-elect Donald Trump. It’s the latest example of the backlash against religious leaders, artists, celebrities and other participants in events surrounding the inaugural. The cathedral for the largely liberal denomination will host an interfaith prayer service on Saturday, the day after Trump takes office. Bishop Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington wrote in a blog post that while she shared “a sense of outrage at some of the president-elect’s words and actions,” she felt an obligation to welcome all people without qualification, especially those who disagree and need to find a way to work together. That role “requires a willingness to put ourselves in places that make us uncomfortable,” Budde wrote. Episcopalians critical of the decision were also upset to learn that the cathedral choir, drawn in part from local Episcopal schools, would sing at the inauguration before the ceremony started, and that the interfaith service the next day would not include a sermon. They saw a missed opportunity to speak out against Trump’s proposed temporary ban on Muslim immigrants and other policies, his calling Mexicans rapists and his remarks about grabbing women’s genitals. Organizers for past services have said the presidential inaugural committees have chosen the preacher, and Trump chose not to have one this year. Budde said most Episcopalians who have contacted her about the service “are dismayed, disappointed and angry.” The Very Rev. Randolph Hollerith, the cathedral dean, defended the decision to participate in the ceremonies. “Our willingness to pray and sing with everyone today does not mean we won’t join with others in protest tomorrow,” he said in a statement. The emotional dispute within the church mirrors the broader fight about the morality of taking part in inaugural events this year, which has stretched across the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a Bruce Springsteen cover band, the Radio City Rockettes and the marching band of historically black Talladega College in Alabama. Groups participating in inauguration events have said they viewed their role in part as serving the country and supporting democracy, not giving an endorsement. Broadway star Jennifer Holliday, who backed out as a performer following protests from her gay and black fans, said she was pained by the reaction. “How could I have this much hate spewing at me, and I haven’t even done anything? I guess it’s not like those old days when political views were your own and you had freedom of speech,” she said. “We live in a different time now and a decision to go and do something for America is not so clear-cut anymore.” Some clergy invited to offer prayers at Friday’s swearing-in have also faced criticism. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who will read from Scripture at the inaugural, said he told critics he had a “sacred responsibility” to participate. “Had Mrs. Clinton won and invited me I would have gone too. It’s not the person. It’s the office, right?” Dolan said on Sirius XM’s Catholic Channel last week. Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, who will offer a prayer near the end of Friday’s program, said, “I believe that all of us should pray for his great success, because his great success means our great success.” But critics contend Trump will be a president unlike any other, because of his policies and vulgarity, so traditions surrounding his inauguration should not hold. The Rev. Gary Hall, who retired in 2015 as dean of the National Cathedral, noted that the church was envisioned as a Westminster Abbey for the U.S. It has long been the site of national events, hosting inaugural interfaith prayer services, presidential funerals and national prayers of mourning, including a ceremony with evangelist Billy Graham three days after the Sept. 11 attacks. But Trump’s “xenophobia and misogyny,” among other behavior and proposed policies, have been “outside the bounds of all mainstream norms” and the church should not appear to bless him, Hall wrote. “We cannot use the words, symbols, and images of our faith to provide a religious gloss to an autocrat,” Hall wrote. The head of the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, responded to the controversy over the cathedral with a statement urging all to pray for Trump and all civic leaders. “Prayer is not a simplistic cheer or declaration of support,” he wrote, but can also “ask God to intervene and change the course of history, to change someone’s mind or his or her heart.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Watch live: Donald Trump’s inauguration as 45th president of the United States
The eyes of the world will be on the U.S. Capitol as Donald Trump formally replaces President Barack Obama as the President of the United States. On Friday, Trump takes the oath of office and becomes America’s 45th president. Official proceedings, which begin at noon ET on the West Lawn of the Capitol, will conclude Trump’s inaugural address to the nation. Trump’s inauguration speech will be “personal” and “philosophical,” his spokesperson has said. “It’s going to be a very personal and sincere statement about his vision for the country,” incoming Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Thursday. You can watch it all below.
