WASHINGTON — The very best spots at President Trump’s inauguration Monday went to a solid of billionaires — most of them newly pleasant to Trump — whereas the nation’s Republican governors, together with Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas, watched from an overflow room within the Capitol’s basement.
The world’s three richest males — Fb founder Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — obtained prized positions arrayed alongside Trump, 78, as he promised to launch the “golden age of America” whereas additionally trashing the nation’s “corrupt institution.”
Solely about 600 individuals might match into the Capitol Rotunda after the inauguration was moved indoors because of dangerously chilly climate — which means not all members of Congress might attend.
Regardless of the area limitation, each Zuckerberg and Bezos got plus-ones, bringing spouse Priscilla Chan and accomplice Lauren Sanchez, respectively.
First son-in-law Jared Kushner, now an funding supervisor and previously Trump’s right-hand-man within the West Wing, was noticed chatting with the group as he and different members of the Trump household stood within the row in entrance of them.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner additionally have been within the wealthy row instantly in entrance of Trump’s Cupboard nominees, together with Well being and Human Providers secretary-designee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Homeland Safety secretary-designee Kristi Noem.
Elsewhere, the CEO of Chinese language-owned TikTok, Shou Chew, sat subsequent to the subsequent Director of Nationwide Intelligence-designee Tulsi Gabbard — days after Trump mentioned he wouldn’t implement a ban of the Chinese language-owned app and as a substitute require a 50:50 three way partnership with an American firm.
Trump confirmed off his solid of recent frenemies — a lot of whom opposed him throughout his first time period and de-platformed him after the 2021 Capitol riot — over his proper shoulder as he spoke, as retiring President Biden and former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Invoice Clinton watched from his left.
The newly inaugurated president mentioned he hoped to be remembered as “a peacemaker and a unifier” throughout his speech — at the same time as he promised a pointy break from the previous for yr on immigration coverage, international affairs and different areas.
The one-biggest ticket allocation might have gone to French billionaire Bernald Arnault — the wealthiest non-American and proprietor of LVMH Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton — who attended alongside along with his spouse Helene, daughter Delphine and son Alexandre. The household stood behind the previous presidents.
Outgoing first girl Jill Biden and former first women Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton have been current for the pared-down inauguration.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams and media figures together with podcaster Joe Rogan and Rupert Murdoch, the chairman emeritus of Fox Company and CEO of New Corp, which incorporates The Submit, additionally attended.
All 9 Supreme Courtroom justices have been within the Rotunda, as have been a few of Trump’s worldwide fellow right-wing populist allies, together with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Trump appeared intent on guaranteeing there have been no onerous emotions with company who have been within the overflow room and proceeded to flatter them and ship a prolonged followup speech there too.
“You’re a youthful and way more stunning viewers than I simply spoke to — and I wish to preserve it off the file,” Trump mentioned.
“I wish to preserve that off the file as a result of I don’t wish to have all these huge photographs up there — I don’t need them to suppose you’re extra highly effective than them, you look higher than them, and I really like you.”
That crowd included Abbott, who Trump praised throughout his remarks for his anti-illegal immigration actions, in addition to quite a few Republican officeholders who’ve had harder relationships with him, together with DeSantis, who challenged Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination, and on-again, off-again critics similar to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Trump informed the bigger group that Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in 2016, “didn’t look too completely happy in the present day” to see him within the Rotunda.
He praised Vice President JD Vance for navigating detrimental press and partisan criticism shortly after his choice as operating mate in July.
Vance “took on some fairly imply individuals,” rump mentioned. “I don’t wish to use the phrase corrupt, as a result of we’re into a brand new system, so let’s wait until the corruption begins, as a result of it should. However he took on some fairly imply individuals, and he dealt with it properly.”
Trump additionally informed the overflow room that Democrats “tried like hell” to “rig” the 2024 election and indicated he would quickly pardon rioters who stormed the Capitol in 2021 to disrupt certification of Biden’s victory.
“I feel this was a greater speech than the one I made upstairs,” Trump closed. “I gave you the A+ therapy!”
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