Washington: Donald Trump held a pre-inauguration rally at Washington’s Capital One Arena, addressing supporters on topics from TikTok to the Ukraine war. This was his first major speech in Washington since his January 6, 2021, address. Trump also announced plans to pardon over 1,500 people charged or convicted in connection with the Capitol riots, Reuters reported.
At the “Make America Great Again Victory Rally,” Trump promised to halt immigration, launch massive deportations, and address national crises. He vowed to remove illegal immigrants and criminal elements. Post-inauguration, Trump plans to declare an emergency at the US-Mexico border, classify drug cartels as terrorists and reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
‘End Ukraine war, stop Middle East crisis’
Set to return after defeating Kamala Harris, Trump called his victory the “greatest political movement” and vowed to act quickly to resolve crises. He claimed credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and promised to end the Ukraine war, stop Middle East chaos, and prevent World War III.
Amid cheers, Trump promised to reverse government “over-classification” and release classified documents on the assassinations of JFK, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. Though he made similar promises before, he faced pressure from the CIA and FBI, limiting his ability to fully release the JFK files.
Trump announced plans to direct the military to build an “Iron Dome” missile defence shield in the US once he takes office. He had earlier promised to create a state-of-the-art missile defense “force field” to protect the country.
Restore TikTok
TikTok restored its services in the US after Trump promised to save it, despite a brief ban due to national security concerns. The US allows a 90-day delay for a deal where ByteDance sells its US subsidiary. Trump also mentioned Apple’s plans for major US investments after his election win.
Targeting Biden administration
Trump declared the end of “American decline” and promised a new era of strength, prosperity, and pride. He vowed to repeal Biden’s executive orders, remove “woke” policies from the military and schools, and restore patriotism. Elon Musk, present at the rally, was announced as head of the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’. Trump’s oath-taking will be indoors due to cold weather, with heavy security.
