I drove down to the DC area on Thursday night with my mom. Early next morning, I took the metro into the city, and I was surprised at how empty the train car was. I had no idea what to expect once I got out, like how big the crowds would be, or if Trump supporters would act aggressively or question my intentions (I’m Latino and have a beard). I felt a bit like a spy and even felt some guilt when I passed the protestors outside checkpoints. I found an entry and went through security with several supporters. I was in DC for Obama’s inauguration, and it was so crowded that you couldn’t move, but once I got through the checkpoints, I was surprised to see how empty the mall was. Aside from a few looks, I never experienced any sort of animosity. The ceremony went by very quickly, and before I knew it, Trump was being sworn in and everyone was cheering. People began leaving and I watched the journalists interview families and I looked up when Marine One fly over with Obama inside. There was a long break before the parade began, and people milled about and found positions along the barricades to get a glimpse of Trump and his family. I walked around and absorbed the unusual moment of emptiness, and I shot a bunch of tour buses and fences and I kept being drawn to all the Trump merchandise.
I couldn’t help but associate the red Make America Great Again hats with the Brownshirts of the Nazi Party. The parade started an hour late and eventually the motorcade of limousines inched down the street. I couldn’t make out any faces in the cars, but I saw a little hand waving out one of the windows. I was reminded of when I photographed Pope Francis’ visit to NYC, with everyone dedicated and hanging around forever, waiting for a tiny glimpse of a guy in a car. After it was over, people headed to their buses and inaugural balls. Night came and I thought about leaving but I kept finding all these symbols for the new era, like the red and white Trump flags that reminded me of swastikas, the Boy Scout kid that looked like a Brownshirt, and the tacky opulence of hotel facades.