Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington D.C. last month to watch history be made. On January 20, Donald Trump took  the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol to become the 45th President of the United States. Donald Trump and Mike Pence replaced Barack Obama and Joe Biden as the President and Vice President of the United States.

Many supporters traveled from all over the country to witness the event, and over 6.8 million people watched the event on livestream. This was the first time in history that an inauguration was streamed live via social media sites, like Twitter and YouTube.

While the event was seen as a celebration for some, it came with a great deal of controversy as well.

Trump started off his presidency with a unique inaugural address. He gave the speech directly after taking the oath. In his vehement first words as the president, he touched on some of the issues that face the country and reiterated his goal to give the power to the people. Trump promised to work for the people and better the country. The speech received much praise from his supporters.

“For too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation,” President Trump said. “That all changes — starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.”

Not everyone felt this same sense of optimism. The day after the Inauguration, millions of people around the world took to the streets to protest the new president. Marches were held in an estimated 600 cities, including Washington D.C., Boston, Paris, Chicago, and many more. The protests were led by strong opposers of Trump and even some celebrities. Words of support were given by senators like Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.

“Even if you are not sitting in the White House, even if you are not a member of the United States Congress, even if you don’t run a big corporate Super PAC, you have the power,” Harris said. “I am here to speak for everyone who felt their vote did not count.”

Without a doubt, this election made headlines all around the world. Whether it was celebration or resistance, the people made their voices heard.

Noah Lynch

News Writer