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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2017)
Page 8A INAUGURATION East Oregonian Saturday, January 21, 2017 TRUMP: Promises to ‘completely eradicate’ Islamic terrorism Continued from 1A govern our land. From this moment on, it’s going to be America first.” Eager to demonstrate his readiness to take actions, Trump went directly to the Oval Office Friday night, before the inaugural balls, and signed his first executive order as president — on “Obamacare.” The order notes that Trump intends to seek the “prompt repeal” of the law. But in the meantime, it allows the Health and Human Services Department or other federal agencies to delay implementing any piece of the law that might impose a “fiscal burden” on states, health care providers, families or individuals. “This is a movement and now the work begins,” Trump told supporters, before dancing with his wife, Melania, to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” at the first of three inaugural balls. “We love you. We’re going to be working for you and we’re going to produce results.” Trump also signed commissions for two former generals confirmed to Cabinet posts earlier by the Senate: James Mattis as secretary of defense and John Kelly to head the Department of Homeland Security. Vice President Mike Pence swore them in soon after. Mattis struck a different tone from his new boss in his first statement to his depart- ment: “Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances.” At the inauguration, the crowd that spread out before Trump on the National Mall was notably smaller than at past inaugurals, reflecting both the divisiveness of last year’s campaign and the unpopularity of the incoming president compared to modern predecessors. After the swearing-in, demonstrations unfolded in the streets of Washington. Police in riot gear deployed pepper spray after protesters smashed the windows of downtown businesses, denouncing capitalism and the new president. Police reported more than 200 arrests by evening and said six officers had been hurt. At least one vehicle was set afire. Short and pointed, Trump’s 16-minute address in the heart of Washington was a blistering rebuke of many who listened from privileged seats only feet away. Surrounded by men and women who have long Rob Carr/Pool Photo via AP From left, first lady Melania Trump, Karen Pence, President Donald Trump, Vice Pres- ident Mike Pence, former president Barack Obama, former vice president Joe Biden, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Friday in Washington after Trump’s inauguration ceremony. AP Photo This pair of photos shows a view of the crowd on the National Mall at the inaugurations of President Barack Obama, above, on Jan. 20, 2009, and President Donald Trump, below, on Friday. Both were shot shortly before noon from the top of the Washington Monument. AP Photo/John Minchillo President-elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Friday for his presidential inauguration. Supporters of Donald Trump gather on the National Mall during the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, Friday in Washington. filled the government’s corridors of power, the new president said that for too long, “a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.” His predecessor, Obama, sat stoically as Trump pledged to push the country in a dramatically different direction. Trump’s victory gives Republicans control of both the White House and Congress — and all but ensures conservatives can quickly pick up a seat on the closely divided Supreme Court. Despite entering a time of Republican dominance, Trump made little mention of the party’s bedrock prin- ciples: small government, social conservativism and robust American leadership around the world. to a 9-year low. Yet Trump’s victory underscored that for many Americans, the recovery from the Great Recession has come slowly or not at all. His campaign tapped into seething anger in working class communities, particularly in the Midwest, that have watched factories shuttered and the certainty of a middle class life wiped away. Randy Showalter, a 36-year-old diesel mechanic and father of five from Mount Solon, Virginia, said he felt inspired as he stood and listened to Trump’s speech. “I feel like there’s an American pride that I’ve never felt, honestly, in my life,” said Showalter, who donned Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” red hat. Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP He left no doubt he considers himself the product of a movement — not a party. Trump declared his moment a fulfillment of his campaign pledge to take a sledgehammer to Wash- ington’s traditional ways, and he spoke directly to the alienated and disaffected. “What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people,” he said. “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.” But the speech offered scant outreach to the millions who did not line up behind his candidacy. Trump’s call for restric- tive immigration measures, religious screening of immigrants and his caustic campaign rhetoric about women and minorities angered millions. He did not directly address that opposi- tion, instead offering a call to “speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.” While Trump did not detail policy proposals Friday, he did set a high bar for his pres- idency. The speech was full of the onetime showman’s lofty promises to bring back jobs, “completely” eradicate Islamic terrorism, and build new roads, bridges and airports. Despite Trump’s ominous portrait of America, he is taking the helm of a growing economy. Jobs have increased for a record 75 straight months, and the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in December, close At 70, Trump is the oldest person to be sworn in as president, marking a gener- ational step backward after two terms for Obama, one of the youngest presidents to serve as commander in chief. In a show of solidarity, all of the living American presidents attended the inau- gural, except for 92-year-old George H.W. Bush, who was hospitalized this week with pneumonia. His wife, Barbara, was also in the hospital after falling ill. But more than 60 House Democrats refused to attend Trump’s 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. Melee nears parade as police, protesters clash WASHINGTON (AP) — 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. At least 217 people were arrested for rioting while a burning limousine sent clouds of black smoke into the sky during Trump’s procession. Several spirited demon- strations unfolded peacefully at various security check- points near the Capitol as police helped ticket-holders get through to the inaugural ceremony. Signs read, “Resist Trump Climate Justice Now,” ‘’Let Freedom Ring” and “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 Star- bucks, 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 north- west Washington. “They began to destroy property, throw objects at people, through windows. A large percentage of this small group was armed with crowbars and hammers,” said the city’s interim police chief, Peter Newsham. Six officers suffered minor injuries, he said. AP Photo/John Minchillo A parked limousine burns during a demonstration after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Friday, in Washington. 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. AP Photo/John Minchillo Police fire pepper spray at protesters during a demonstration in downtown Washington, Friday, after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The confrontation began an hour before Trump took the oath of office and esca- lated 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. The limousine was attacked on the perimeter of the secured zone. As Trump and his parade of celebrants moved along Pennsylvania Avenue, the vehicle was ablaze, tainting the air for blocks and sending protesters and passers-by moving swiftly away. As night fell, young protesters ignited a large bonfire blocks from the White House in McPherson Square. They carried signs like “Hail to the Thief” and hung an upside-down Amer- ican flag as women in gowns and men in tuxedos passed by, presumably en route to one of the inaugural balls. Police said protesters damaged vehicles, destroyed property and set small fires while armed with crowbars and hammers. All 217 people arrested were charged with rioting, said Newsham, noting that the group caused “significant damage” along a number of blocks. 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. 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 DisruptJ20 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. 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.” Friday’s protests spread across the nation. In San Francisco, thou- sands formed a human chain on the Golden Gate Bridge and chanted “Love Trumps hate.” In the city’s financial district, a few hundred protesters blocked traffic outside an office building partly owned by Trump.
