President-elect Donald Trump addressed thousands of supporters at a “victory rally” in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, reaffirming his commitment to deliver on his campaign promises. The rally, held at the Capital One Arena, saw attendees braving long waits in freezing temperatures, rain, and snow, eager to hear Trump’s vision for his upcoming presidency.
Trump assured his followers that one of his first actions in office would be to impose strict limits on immigration, fulfilling a central promise from his 2016 campaign. “By the time the sun sets tomorrow, the invasion of our country will have come to a halt,” he declared, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. The rally, reminiscent of his earlier campaign speeches, featured a mixture of bold boasts and sweeping promises.
This event marked Trump’s first significant public appearance in Washington since the January 6, 2021 speech that preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. Reflecting on his political journey, Trump told the crowd, “This is the greatest political movement in American history, and 75 days ago, we achieved the most epic political victory our country has ever seen.”
Trump also promised to act with “historic speed and strength” to resolve the nation’s crises, which he outlined as including the economy, foreign policy, and national security. “Starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed of strength and fix every single crisis facing our country,” he said. Additionally, he vowed to “close the curtain on four long years of American decline” and usher in a new era of American strength and prosperity.
Also read: Donald Trump plans to sign record number of executive orders on inauguration day
The incoming president also reiterated his intentions to pardon many individuals charged or convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. In another bold promise, Trump said he would repeal the executive orders of the Biden administration within hours of assuming office.
Further addressing foreign policy, Trump stated, “I will end the war in Ukraine, I will stop the chaos in the Middle East and I will prevent World War 3 from happening.” He also emphasized his plans to tighten U.S. border security, vowing to put an end to what he called the “invasion of our borders.”
In his remarks, Trump promised to launch the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, aiming to remove millions of immigrants. He also pledged numerous executive orders on his first day, including banning “transgender insanity” and critical race theory from schools, and keeping trans athletes out of women’s sports.
Later in the rally, Elon Musk joined Trump on stage. Musk, who has been tapped to lead a major cost-cutting initiative in the Trump administration, spoke about making America strong for the long term. “What matters going forward is to actually make significant changes, submit those changes, and set the foundation for America to be strong for a century, for centuries, forever,” Musk said.
Trump also vowed to release documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Bobby Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The rally concluded with Trump promising that his presidency would bring lasting change to the nation.
