WASHINGTON >> Californians who helped create the Trump groundswell celebrated among kindred spirits on the Mall today, sharing an allegiance with fellow Americans to a president long dismissed by many in the Golden State as unqualified to hold the job.
“It feels wonderful,” said Mark Le, a Los Angeles resident. “In California, you have to be a little careful — and that’s a shame. But once people see what he does, making America great again, they’ll understand.”
Allen Payton, of Antioch, applauded President Donald Trump’s speech, saying: “Of all the inaugural addresses I’ve heard, this was the most compelling. … Borders, jobs and re-building our infrastructure — that’s what we need. And he stayed completely on point.”
After traveling cross country, the Californians arrived early to move towards their places of witness, passing protesters and joining the stream of lines that stretched from security gates toward the bright white lighting of the Capitol.
Wrapped in ponchos, blankets, American flags and red “Make America Great Again” hats, the rain and clouds could not dim the sheer exhilaration of their day.
They said that Trump represents values that are less celebrated in coastal California: cultural conservatism, a tax policy that supports small businesses and stronger borders.
Watching glistening huge screens stationed along the vast Mall, they jeered when ex-President Barack Obama and former Vice President Biden joined the dais.
Chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump,” “USA, USA, USA” and “Build That Wall, Build That Wall!” drowned out a speech by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader.
Some yelled: “Obama — You’re Fired!”
But the loudest boos were reserved for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
The crowd rejoiced when Trump took the stage. The greatest applause lines were for his pledges to “get off welfare and get jobs” and “Buy American, hire American” and unite the world “against radical Islamic terrorism.”
They joined Trump at a triumphant close, chanting in unison: “We will make America great again!”
“I think this is a turning point in our nation,” Le said. “We need a change; we need an outsider. … He’ll focus on our country — taking care of our people, our infrastructure, our jobs. We are so worried about other countries. We need to take care of ourselves.”
Rene Pineda of South San Francisco, a California representative of a Filipino Republican group who traveled to Washington for the event, said “I am happy with the message that America is his priority. What he will concentrate on is the future of the U.S.”
“We are looking forward to the change he has promised to trade, foreign policy and education,” said Cecile Ramos, of Montebello in Los Angeles County. “He appointed somebody (as education secretary) who supports parents’ rights to a voucher system so parents can send children to school of choice. Some inner-city schools fail parents, and they need a choice.
“Hopefully he will build up the military, and if you have a strong military, others will not attack you,” she added.
The crowd happily dispersed from the Mall and lined the Constitution Avenue to watch the parade, which will spotlight horse-mounted members of several Army units, including the Caisson platoon out of Fort Myer, California, responsible for the carriage-drawn funeral ceremonies in Arlington National Cemetery.
California’s only representative in the parade is the Merced County Sheriff’s Posse, which will ride 14 palomino horses — shipped across country for the event last week to an equestrian facility in Maryland. .
“Out of 58 counties, we’re the one representing the state,” Sheriff Vern Warnke said at a Merced press conference last week. “You can tell I’m kind of giddy about it.”
Gazing at the crowd, “I’ve never done this before. This is my first inauguration,” Le. said. “This was the first presidential election where I actually donated — I was that passionate about it.”
