Anti-Trump protesters smash windows in inauguration protest

The chairman of Trump’s presidential inaugural committee also previously told CNN that while “Donald is a great admirer of Kanye”, West would not be performing. The incident occurred about 90 minutes before Trump was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol a mile and a half (2.4 km) away.

“I don’t think it’s impossible to talk to him about issues, but I won’t be used as a publicity stunt”.

Things are no smoother for Washington – a city with a history of welcoming its White House occupants – following one of the most polarizing elections in modern US politics. Eleanor Goldfield, who helped organise the Disrupt J20 protest, said protesters wanted to show Trump and his “misguided, misinformed or just plain dangerous” supporters that they won’t be silent. “This was us protesting without protesting”.

Trump supporters Chris and Karen Korthaus, who carried a life-size cardboard cutout of the former reality TV star, crossed paths with an anti-Trump crowd. After eight years of Barack Obama, the American people overwhelming voted for different management, and that point was made clear in Washington, D.C. Thursday night.

It was Trump rhetoric toward women that caused Simiele to take a step back, but she decided he was the better candidate for the country. “It’s good that people are making a stand, but it’s important that we get organised all over again when Trump decides to visit the United Kingdom”.

“This city is bummed out, it’s a Democratic city”, Hendrickson said. Now the last laugh was hers, though she said she was more likely to cry.

And here’s an aerial shot before Trump’s inaugural concert on Thursday. “We’re going to be backing up law enforcement”. “They’re here for the inauguration”.

Trump and wife, Melania, bid Obama and outgoing first lady Michelle Obama farewell as they departed the Capitol grounds in a government helicopter.

The tycoon-turned-politician will deliver his first address as U.S. president to hundreds of thousands of people in Washington DC and millions watching around and it will be short.

Mr Trump was expected to stay in Washington overnight ahead of Friday’s inauguration.

Trump opponents have been angered by his comments during the campaign about women, illegal immigrants and Muslims and his pledges to scrap the Obamacare health reform and build a wall on the Mexican border. “I promise you. It’s going to change”, Politico quoted the real-estate mogul as saying.

Cortis, 53, who has spent months driving the country with his trailer-mounted model bridge, said the atmosphere had been cordial despite the political differences on display across much of the city.

“After six years here, walking through these doors for the final time”, White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz tweeted. Authorities say they have plans in place to keep pro and anti-Trump groups separate during Friday’s events.

There were some cheers after Trump gave his speech and then students dispersed after the National Anthem. I know I’m from a conservative state but when I saw Texas come in red it still lit a fire in me – people can not be allowed to get away with what Trump has in terms of racism and sexism. “This started out tonight being a small little concert, and then we had the idea, ‘Maybe we’ll do it in front of the Lincoln Memorial, ‘” Trump said.

We can only hope that in his address he will go beyond the generalities and bluster of the campaign. Prior to his swearing in, Mike Pence was sworn in as vice president by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.

Just blocks away, the White House was quickly emptying out.