Watching the US Inauguration

I hope they were all wearing two vests.

Well, good luck to the new president.

With the iron ring the police and military had thrown round the Capitol, it was bound to go reasonably well, unless someone had planted a bomb, which fortunately they had not.

Glad Trump only made a few fatuous remarks.

What is this business about him not really being able to live in the property he had gone to? It was mentioned by a commentator as if we all know this, but I had never heard it before. Never watched a presidential inaugration before. Struck me as the world's most boring ceremony.

how can the National Anthem be a strange choice if music. It's so solemn more joyful

Grandma70s

“Why did a quite solemn occasion then turn into a Broadway act?”

Precisely, Marmight. No sense of what is appropriate.

As a non-American I don't feel I have the right to tell them what is and isn't appropriate.

However I thought Lady Gaga giving a fabulous rendition of the National Anthem in a Schiaparelli ballgown was out of this world. And I don't see anything inappropriate with a Latina singer performing a song about how the country is for all its inhabitants, followed by an extract from another song saying how beautiful the country is. Interspersed with part of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.

GrandetanteJE65 I believe Trump was only given permission to build Mar-a-Lago as a business, not as a residential property.
I've never watched a previous inaugeration, but avidly watched this one to make sure I knew that Trump really had gone. I too, felt a sense of lightness come over me when Biden took his oath and the USA finally had a new President.
Has anyone else noticed that Trump was born just 10 months after Hitler committed suicide? I hope reincarnation isn't a reality.

Wonderful moving speech delivered with sincerity and gives some hope to us all, though the new president faces huge challenges. I thought Trump in his awful final message was setting up expectations so that any good things which follow can be claimed as his achievements and any problems can be claimed as all down to his successor. I hope I am wrong and that if I'm right the media will not help him. President Biden is a beacon of hope and the media could do a lot to support his work to bring America together and face the huge challenges together.

Grandma70s

“Why did a quite solemn occasion then turn into a Broadway act?”

Precisely, Marmight. No sense of what is appropriate.

Seriously ?? I’m sorry but what a very mealy mouthed comment.

It was very emotional. Lady GaGa and JLo were both fab. Recorded the concert. Watching it now.

Trump still has a large following even among the coloured and ethnic population and it really needs a younger , stronger President to cope with the problems that will ensue in the future.

Sooze58

I’m very worried. I wasn’t a Trump fan but at least you could see everything - what you saw was what you got, whereas with Biden it’s hidden. He is a lefty, woke, virtue signalling man with a very dodgy background.....
He is an IRA sympathiser who with Obama bombed 7 different countries!!! His speech was a load of waffle which everyone wanted to hear but meant nothing. He was very quick to condemn (quite rightly) the storming of the Capitol, but no condemnation of the Antifa rioting and looting. Dangerous man.

You weren’t a trump fan? Really ? Could have fooled me.

As for "solemn" - I didn't think Vice President Harris was solemn. She looked on the verge of jumping up and down with excitement and who could blame her!

Oh, by the way - what about the firefighter giving the Pledge of Allegiance with sign language!

I wonder if the America will divide into states, as one resident from Texas suggested? As England is slowly dividing, Food for thought.

eazybee

Neither Lady Gaga, who looked like a Pantomime Dame, nor Jennifer Lopez added to the dignity of the ceremony.

Oh dear another mealy mouthed comment I just saw. Is this the “conservative ( note the small c) British way is the only way “ attitude ? Lady gaga is flamboyant , she sang with feeling and looked incredible.

I think President Biden made a great speech. He seems like a genuine person. I think he will get America back on track. The best of luck to him

I saw that Trump awarded himself a 21 gun salute and a rendition of Sinatra singing My Way. Classy.

I wish Jo Biden and Kamala Harris all the luck in the world, they’re going to need it.

I’ve watched the last 3 inaugurations, mainly because the US is so important to us too. But I must admit they are a bit tedious.

I watched it right the way through as I always enjoy things like that. It was wonderful. I thought Gaga was great and sang from the heart (I'm a big Gaga fan), and JL was fine.
Just because America doesn't do things in the same way that we do, it doesn't mean they are wrong. Just different.
I wish President Biden all the luck in the world. I do think he is rather old for the job, but I wish him all the best.
I'm sad to read some of the mean spirited comments on here.

So, Trump sneaking out the back - no line of White House staff to say goodbye (as is traditional). Wouldn't go to the inauguration (I bet they were all relieved) but gave himself a 21 gun salute to see him off (like the narcissist he is). Heard on the radio today that Melania "outsourced" her thank you cards to the staff (traditionally written by hand by first ladies) to someone-else to be typed out. He was ungracious to the end - glad to see the back of him (but hope someone is keeping an eye on his shady dealings from now on). The world suddenly feels a lot safer.

One last thing about Trump (and then never again) but interesting to look at the low lifes he "pardoned" - all accused of corruption and perverting the course of justice. They either knew too much about him (and he didn't want them testifying at his Impeachment) or he will need their advice to form his new Party - sadly, I don't think we've seen the last of him.

As an American I was calm for the first time in four years, yesterday. We want boring. .Joe isn’t there to entertain us as Trump did. I am so proud of their memorial to the 400,000 people who died of the virus the night before the inauguration. And yesterday’s ceremony was very patriotic. Joe will tell it like it is without lies.
As for Trump, he told us he would be back in some form. His children have political ambitions so that’s probably what he means. He had signed an agreement with the city of Palm Beach that his club is a business and not a residence. He can only live there 21 days a year although he was there 30 last year. He was a nightmare, bullying, lying and a narcissistic human being who cared for no one but himself. He abandoned his country with the virus and promised us better healthcare which we never got. He said Mexico would pay for the border wall and that never happened. He destroyed environmental protections. He invited anger and never condemned violence until pressured into as an afterthought.
I am hoping to sleep better now. It won’t be perfect but it won’t divide us .

Grandma70s

“Why did a quite solemn occasion then turn into a Broadway act?”

Precisely, Marmight. No sense of what is appropriate.

Completely agree with both comments. Inappropriate and undignified considering the state the country is in. I also saw a fireworks display on the news this morning and the Bidens staring dreamily up at the sky with (I think) Katie Perry bellowing in the background. ?

Who would you have liked to be singing? Frank Sinatra, and "My Way"?

Oh, wait.......

I know it sounds odd to you but they have always used famous singers to sing patriotic songs. (We think it’s odd that you sing to the Queen to be saved when she has no real power.) Different customs for different countries.
The night before, a nurse who sang to Covid patients, sang at the memorial for those fallen from the virus. She had a great voice too.

Loved every minute of it and even though I'm not American I'm relieved for the sake of us all. It's was awful at this specific time during a pandemic that so much hate was being spread in the name of patriotism. Much needed calm is needed now and taking care of the less fortunate too.

Lady Gaga was magnificent, I have serious frock envy!