US President-elect lays groundwork for January 6 pardons, executive orders

Scrap workers Logan Page, 21, and Blake Bridges, 20, flew from Georgia hoping to see the president-elect, but were so far back in the queue that they accepted they would probably not get into the rally. Both were still thrilled to be in town for the inauguration weekend.

“Even being right here, I can feel his presence. That’s how powerful it is,” said Page as the pair made their way to the end of the line, which stretched almost two Metro stops from the arena by that stage.

“We want change, and we’re finally about to get some change in America,” Bridges added.

“I want deportations immediately and I want him to keep everything safe. Even going after Greenland is awesome,” he said, in reference to Trump suggesting he would attempt to seize the autonomous territory from Denmark.

Also in Washington was Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who was invited as Australia’s representative at the swearing-in ceremony and planned to meet with Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Florida senator Marco Rubio, on Tuesday.

“Every new presidency is a day of profound importance to the world and I look forward to working with the administration as a partner and ally,” Wong said, speaking to reporters at the residence of Australia’s ambassador in Washington, Kevin Rudd.

Back in downtown DC, Trump kicked off his formal inauguration day eve with a private breakfast with Republican senators at Blair House, the president’s official guest residence opposite the White House. He then took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance and their wives.

Trump arrived at his victory rally to loud chants of “USA! USA!” from the 20,000-plus strong crowd, after speeches from his sons Eric and Don Jr, Eric’s wife Lara, and UFC boss Dana White.

“We won. We won,” Trump declared, igniting another round of cheering. “What a good feeling. We like winning, don’t we, huh?”

He told supporters that “four long years of American decline” would end with his inauguration, before teasing the blizzard of “day one” executive orders – and the reversal of many of the Biden administration’s policies.

“Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed when I take the oath of office,” he told the crowd.

“Oh, you’re gonna have a lot of fun watching television tomorrow. Somebody said yesterday, ‘Sir, don’t sign so many in one day. Let’s do it over weeks.’ Like hell we’re going to do it over weeks. We’re going to sign them immediately.”