Washington getting ready for the transfer of power

On January 20th next year, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in at the West Lawn of the US Capitol as the 47th president of the United States. Thousands of visitors are expected to come to Washington, DC to take part in this historic event in one way or another – with the National Mall teeming with spectators and thousands lining up along Pennsylvania Avenue to watch the president’s entourage make their way to the White House during the ceremonial parade.

As early as October, luxury hotels in Washington were already getting fully booked, with reservations blocked out from Jan. 14 to 21 and room rates increasing by as much as 1,000 percent. According to Destination DC, a non-profit corporation that supports the travel and tourism sector, bookings for the inauguration weekend are now at 50 percent and expected to go higher as Jan. 20 comes closer, since hotel occupancy rates usually surpass 90 percent during inaugurations.

A complete list on road closures will be issued by the DC Metropolitan Police Department a day before the inauguration, but definitely, streets around the inauguration area and the ceremonial parade will be closed throughout the day for security purposes.

Because the inauguration is considered a “National Special Security Event” with US political leaders and foreign dignitaries in attendance, security plans are very stringent, with the US Secret Service as the lead federal agency with support from other entities that include the US Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (composed of service members from all branches of the US Armed Forces, including Reserve and National Guard components).

According to the Joint Task Force Commanding General, they will be deploying as many as 12,000 in the parade, of whom 5,000 are service members. Although the JTF did not issue an estimate on crowd size, inaugurations can draw over one million attendees, requiring mammoth logistics and security preparations.

During the January 2021 inauguration of President Biden, security preparations were also strict because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The rising number of cases prompted the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to limit the number of dignitaries in attendance.

The atmosphere at the 2021 Biden inauguration was very different from the 1989 inauguration of president George Bush Sr., which I also happened to attend. The National Mall was mostly empty, with around 200,000 small flags planted across the mall in lieu of Americans who were unable to attend, while the streets were relatively quiet.

For the Biden inauguration, we were bused in by the State Department that planned and coordinated the health protocols that were implemented for the invited diplomats. We all wore masks, and social distancing (six feet apart) in reserved seating arrangements was observed during the entire event.

From all indications, president Trump’s inauguration will be an “all out” celebration with fireworks displays and performances by celebrities. Top companies that include Amazon, Meta and Uber reportedly pledged millions of dollars to the inaugural committee. Automotive industry giants Ford and General Motors are giving generous donations and will supply vehicles for the event. ABC News also reported that the upcoming inauguration has already surpassed the $150-million fundraising goal – by far larger than the $107 million raised during the first inauguration of president Trump.

Washington officials are certainly happy that the “inauguration is back” because it would also mean a boost to the local economy, since people go shopping and dining and visit other attractions as well, with various business establishments offering special packages for tourists. Certainly, the city is looking forward to hosting people from all over the country who will explore and experience the unique charms of Washington, and this in itself is a “win,” according to deputy mayor for planning and economic development Nina Albert.

Traditionally since the 1800s, no foreign head of state is invited for the inauguration, with only foreign ambassadors representing their countries in Washington, DC getting invited. However, President Trump has issued invitations verbally to a few world leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentinian President Javier Milei (who posted on X that he will be attending) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is unclear whether President Xi accepted the invitation or will be attending the inauguration.

President Trump has promised to make America great again – and according to a survey by global CEO consulting and advisory company Teneo, global investors are optimistic about the economy, believing that the “Trump effect” will generate a lot of positive economic activity that will create more jobs and greater levels of US and foreign investment.

For the Philippines, we are pleased with the appointments made by president Trump, such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Senator Rubio has been sympathetic to the Philippines, visiting Tacloban City in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in January 2014 and vowing more aid for rehabilitation efforts.

Other appointments are Cerberus Capital Management chairman Steve Feinberg for Deputy Secretary of Defense. He relentlessly pursued the Cerberus investment in the abandoned Subic Bay shipyard which today employs thousands of Filipino workers, with additional investments expected to pour in.

We are also pleased that Elbridge Colby has been appointed Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, who is acknowledged as a lead architect for the 2018 US National Security Strategy. We also have a very strong bipartisan support from the US Congress.

Additionally, President Marcos during his congratulatory call to President Trump re-established his personal relationship with the incoming US president, whom he met in New York many years ago with his mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos.

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