Trump's second inauguration to see smaller protests and fewer Democratic boycotts
Democratic lawmakers who boycotted Trump's first inauguration say they feel compelled to go this time, while protests are expected to be a fraction of their 2017 size.
Donald Trump’s first inauguration was marked by riots in the streets of Washington and spurred global counterprotests that included millions, including what was estimated to be the largest single-day of protest in U.S. history. The turnout set the stage for four years of vociferous demonstrations against a president whose victory was seen as a fluke.
This year, ahead of Trump’s second inauguration, which falls on Monday’s Martin Luther King Day holiday, thousands are expected to turn out at demonstrations to honor King and protest Trump. But their numbers are expected to be far smaller than they were eight years ago as the burning intensity of the anti-Trump “Resistance” movement cooled to a smolder in the wake of his second victory — the first time Trump has won the popular vote.
The result is an emboldened Trump and weakened grassroots opposition, with some questioning whether all the protesting, donating, door-knocking and letter-writing they did during his first term amounted to much of anything.
Anti-Trump marches will be smaller, celebrities more likely to stay on the sidelines, and corporations, which at times found themselves in an uneasy alliance with left-leaning protesters, donating to Trump’s inaugural committee and sending their CEOs to attend.
“This is not going to be a time of resistance like it was in 2017,” said Donna Brazile, the veteran Democratic activist and former Democratic National Committee chair.
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