Free Republic

Barack Obama asked George W. Bush how they could “stop what’s happening” during President Trump’s inauguration on Monday, according to a lip reader. Jackie Gonzalez, a deaf woman who shares her interpretations of celebrities’ and politicians’ private conversations on social media, made a now-viral video revealing what she believed the two former presidents were discussing during a candid moment at Trump’s inauguration.

The reverend at the National Cathedral prayer service for the inauguration called on President Trump to have mercy on transgender children and immigrant families in her sermon on Tuesday. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said to Trump, who was sitting in the first pew, that millions of Americans have “put their trust in you” before making her plea to the president. “I ask you, to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared. There are gay, lesbian, transgender children, Democratic, Republican, independent families — some who fear for their lives,” she said. She added, “The people who pick...

Billy Ray Cyrus broke his fans’ achy breaky hearts at Donald Trump’s Liberty Inaugural Ball. The singer, 63, took the stage in Washington, DC, on Monday hours after Trump, 78, was sworn in as the 47th president. But Cyrus’ performance was deemed an “epic disaster” by fans after he had a huge meltdown over alleged technical difficulties. The chaos began when Cyrus complained that his guitar wasn’t working while he performed his and Lil Nas X’s hit “Old Town Road.” “Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off. I don’t hear my guitar anymore,” Cyrus said to...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered some of the most effusive praise for President Donald Trump on the occasion of his inauguration on Monday – a stark contrast to his apparent support for former election rivals Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign. Zelensky published a statement celebrating Trump as a “strong person” and “always decisive,” expressing optimism about his country’s relationship to Washington during the second Trump term. He congratulated Trump a second time during a video message to the Ukrainian people also published on Monday, encouraging Ukrainians by suggesting that the Russian invasion may soon come to...

President Trump entered the Commander-in-Chief ball with first lady Melania Trump to a thunderous ovation as the inaugural events continued late into the night on Monday. The 54-year-old first lady dazzled the crowd as she walked out in a striking black-and-white strapless gown, white high-heeled shoes and black choker with an elegant broach resembling a floral bouquet affixed to it. The dress was reportedly designed by Hervé Pierre, the same couturier behind Melania’s 2017 Inauguration ball dress. Trump, wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie, promptly began dancing with his wife at the event aimed at military service members. The...

Hey Free Republic! Calling all old-timers, ones that go back 25 years on the forum! In the 2000 election, FR was a lot more active, especially during the election and afterwards. We protested Al Gore during the horrible recount period, and then on January 20, 2001, the DC Chapter put on an awesome Inaugural Ball right there in Washington DC. Arkansas Governor (now: Ambassador to Israel) Mike Huckabee had a rock band, and they played for us all night. It was quite an event! I often do "360 degree" panoramic photography, so I thought I would document the night that...

Ever wonder what happens inside the White House on Inauguration Day? We will examine how the Presidential administration transfers the White House from one President to the next. With a literal army of White House staff, these people have the seemingly impossible task of packing up an entire 20,000-square-foot mansion in a matter of hours two times over. This video will examine the behind-the-scenes action that makes sense of this highly choreographed, organized chaos.

An imam who previously declined to condemn Hezbollah was removed from President Trump's inauguration ceremony today, where he had been scheduled to deliver a benediction alongside other religious leaders. Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who leads the Karbalaa Islamic education center in Dearborn, Michigan, was notably absent from the Capitol rotunda ceremony despite being listed in earlier versions of the inauguration program. His removal appears linked to resurfaced footage of a controversial 2007 Fox News interview where he refused to acknowledge Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

President Donald Trump, when taking his most recent oath of office, did not appear to place his left hand on either of the Bibles brought to the swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday. The placement of Trump’s left hand, however, has no bearing on the legitimacy of his first day back at the job. The U.S. Constitution does not stipulate that a president-to-be place his or her hand on a Bible when taking the Oath, because each president who recites this oath or affirmation is “bound” by the words themselves, per Article VI. The same article also says...

I just saw a little girl run in front of a seated Donald and Melania Trump and it occurred to me that this is the first day in four years that a young girl is safe while in close proximity to the President of the United States.

They wouldn’t allow his father to leave the country to attend,so he filled in and did great!

THIS VIDEO JUST TURNED 8 YEARS OLD. LET THE CRYING BEGIN.

It’s no doubt that MSNBC’s pompous lefty talking head Rachel Maddow is having a bad day. Apparently, it was so bad that she interrupted the network’s coverage of the inauguration of President Donald Trump to bemoan how outgoing President Joe Biden was a victim of — get this — partisan attacks. ' No, we’re not kidding.

During Carrie Underwood's performance of "America the Beautiful" at the inauguration (a few minutes ago), she was supposed to be accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. However, there was a significant issue: the musical accompaniment did not play, leading her to perform the song a cappella instead. This unexpected turn prompted her to invite the audience to sing along with her during the performance. What happened? Despite the initial plans for a choral accompaniment, Underwood managed to engage the crowd and complete her performance successfully under challenging circumstances.

US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) launched an unhinged rant Sunday against President-elect Donald Trump — claiming the nation was on the “eve of an authoritarian administration.” The lefty lawmaker representing parts of Queens and the Bronx let loose during a series of Instagram videos in which she slammed TikTok for crediting Trump for the social media platform’s return after it was briefly offline in the United States this weekend. “We are on the eve of an authoritarian administration,” the congresswoman said a day before Trump’s inauguration. “This is what 21st-century fascism is starting to look like.”

Black fellow just prayed that amazing emotional prayer. I did not catch his name. Very earnest.

Benny Johnson @bennyjohnson It’s about 20° out and Fetterman is in shorts and a hoodie for President Trump’s Inauguration. From Lucas Tomlinson 9:26 AM · Jan 20, 2025

"Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive at President-elect Trump's Second Inauguration at the Capitol Rotunda."[In a van, not a limo, so Hillary could to get out of the "big door" more easily.]Bill And Hillary Clinton Arrive At Trump's Second Inauguration At Capitol Rotunda [video]

!Shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration eight years ago, half a million people headed onto the streets of Washington DC to protest the new president.Now, as Mr Trump prepares for his return to office, an attempt to repeat the event and stir up mass resistance to the Republican fell flat. One unimpressed attendee described it as “disappointingly tiny”, while another said turnout was “unfortunate”.For an event that billed itself as the “People’s March”, not a lot of people ended up marching.Protesters lined the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday to listen to speakers who branded Mr Trump...

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is set to attend President-elect Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Monday, after Trump said last month that he’d consider pardoning the embattled mayor. The Trump administration reached out “in the early hours of Monday morning” to invite the mayor, who accepted on behalf of the city, said Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy in a post on the social platform X.