PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DRIVING A COMMON-SENSE REVOLUTION

The most significant improvement in US-India relationships will be that India will no longer be judged on the dogmas and orthodoxies of the liberal-progressive theology of the Democrat Party.

- AVATANS KUMAR

TRUMP-VANCE INAUGURATION IN DC Washington, DC, was a big festival town over the weekend. On Monday, 20 January, it led up to the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump as the 47th (he was also the 45th) President of the United States. People from all across America, some even from other parts of the world-in all shapes, sizes, ages, genders, and colours filled the streets of DC. Bundled-up kids held their parents, grandparents, and siblings by their fingers and legs, some in arms and strollers. There were grandparents in walkers and wheelchairs. It reminded this author of good old mela scenes in India with hawkers selling Trump and MAGA (Make America Great Again) merchandise and large boomboxes blaring "YMCA" and "God bless America" songs.

The cheering crowd-a sea of humanity in their signature red MAGA hats and other Trump paraphernalia- moved slowly and patiently to secure their spot in MEMORABLE downtown DC's 20,000-capacity Capital One Arena.

The Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee had issued over 200,000 parade tickets. However, the inaugural parade venue was moved indoors, anticipating freezing temperatures due to the polar vortex sweeping much of America.

This inauguration was in stark contrast to what we saw four years ago. Against the backdrop of the unfortunate 6 January rioting at the Capitol, the authorities in 2021 had turned the inaugural site into a militarized war zone. There were nearly 25,000 military members and countless federal, state, and local law enforcement agents securing the streets of DC. Roads were blocked off by army vehicles. Checkpoints were set up all around the city.

One needed to produce the required credentials with "legitimate business" to enter these secured areas.

In 2025, despite an elaborate security bandobast, the scenes were quite different.