Donald Trump’s second inauguration festivities won’t be like his first – or any other
We hear the comparison a lot – the likening of a strange or peculiar scene involving a
collection of characters or oddballs in today’s cultural understanding to the infamous “bar scene” in Star Wars (the original movie for us non-series geeks), when old Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi takes young Luke Skywalker into an intergalactic watering hole to meet with fugitive Han Solo for the first time.
There, of course, the mostly normal looking human visitors encounter a saloon full of weirdos, strange creatures and aliens that would leave an impression on the audience long after the brief interactions were over. The initial Star Wars movie was released in the mid-1970s, and the scene was so noteworthy that people still talk about it.
Though not quite the same – or as shocking – as the imprints gathered by the movie actors in 1977 (or whenever the story was supposed to take place), the invited attendees at next week’s presidential inauguration might have just as strong an impact on the revelers. Not to be typified or copied in any way, shape or form, Donald J. Trump has issued invitations to performers and dignitaries that no one would’ve ever anticipated to appear at a presidential inauguration in a hundred election cycles.
No, the display won’t be akin to running into a motley gathering of misfits on a far-off planet like in a sci-fi movie, but it will be unique, nonetheless.
How strange? In an article titled, “Trump’s wild inaugural guest list: World leaders, the Village People and an iconic garbage truck”, Susan Ferrechio reported at The Washington Times:
“President-elect Donald Trump will launch his triumphant return to the White House next week with an inauguration that breaks the mold, beginning with an invite list of foreign dignitaries and technology billionaires.
“Mr. Trump defied tradition and invited a slew of his favorite global leaders. Those left off the list, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are angling for a ticket to the presidential swearing-in. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon Chairman Jeff Bezos are reportedly on the guest list. Each donated $1 million to the Trump inaugural fund and visited the president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago home. They will sit alongside fellow billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk on the viewing stand steps from where Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will administer the oath of office to Mr. Trump at noon on Monday.
“Perhaps the riskiest invitation was extended to Chinese President Xi Jinping. The U.S. and China are poised to battle over Mr. Trump’s proposed tariffs. Reports said Mr. Xi plans to send a high-level representative to the event.”
That’s right; even those who can’t – or won’t – be there wouldn’t dare turn down an invite from the second term chief himself. Donald Trump must’ve figured as much, as these days, if the soon-to-be 47th president shoots a glance in your direction, you’d darn well better materialize there. Everyone with experience understands Trump has a long memory and slights aren’t easily overlooked or forgiven.
It’s safe to say Trump would want the world to be there if he could find a venue large enough, and here’s thinking the career real estate developer, tabloid celebrity and reality TV star-turned first-time politician turned two-term president intends to make the kick-off of his grandest self-celebration party the most astonishing of all-time.
Anyone who’s anyone would hope to be there, even if the seats closest to the podium were reserved solely for the dearest of Trump admirers and helpers, the people who mean most to the president and supporters who extended themselves to ensure the man got another chance to Make America Great Again after being deprived of the opportunity four years ago.
Four years isn’t that long within the context of history, but it seems like eons have passed since January 20, 2021, with senile Joe Biden wallowing in self-congratulatory slobber on his way to vowing to unite the entire country and heal the considerable wounds Democrats had inflicted on the nation during the trumped-up COVID pandemic crisis and Russian collusion nonsense in his first term.
For those, like myself, who didn’t actually tune-in to the festivities that day – but reviewed news footage to see what went down out of curiosity – it’s difficult to recall just how restricted and limited the nation felt back then. The small crowd was socially distanced away from the stage area, tyrannical and stupid precautions that didn’t mean anything except to silently convey the “caution” the government authorities observed to stave off infection from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP, or Wuhan, if you prefer) virus that was supposedly lurking ominously among the human population.
Wearing masks and acting strangely… it was almost as though the Democrat-ordered lockdowns were meant to make it seem as though Americans were trapped in a Star Wars-like bar scene seeking to conform yet be free at the same time.
Even stranger, perhaps, a number of Democrats have signaled they won’t be there for Trump’s swearing in this year, calling unmerited attention to their childish “boycott” as though their stunt would detract from the overall warm feelings of the moment.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama announced she wouldn’t be attending, just as she shunned the recent public funeral of the late President Jimmy Carter. Michelle’s choice to stew in her own self-pity might’ve embarrassed her husband, but it won’t make a difference to the MAGA enthusiasts who will show by the thousands. Particularly those who are glad to be present as well as those who feel compelled by duty or honor to witness it.
Other childish Democrat holdouts include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Jasmine Crockett and Ayanna Pressley, the latter two explaining they couldn’t bring themselves to attend because the ceremony falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As though a federal holiday wasn’t enough to honor the Civil Rights Leader’s memory.
Non-stop grandstanding from Democrats won’t ruin the occasion, however. It appears as though the (politically) ugliest, most deformed and offensive organisms will be somewhere away from the western front of the U.S. capitol. With their absence, maybe it won’t look like the Star Wars “bar scene” after all.
Symbolism abounds for Trump Inauguration guests
For those who might’ve surmised Trump wouldn’t go out of his way to set his last Inauguration Day apart, they were dead wrong. Members of the establishment media have particularly highlighted the fact the famous MAGA garbage truck would appear in the inaugural parade, which won’t exactly stand up as a distinguished presence.
But it will be vintage Trump. The new president won’t care about appearances, and there’s nothing more fitting than offering a parade “marching” slot to the famed trash vehicle that was so valuable in encapsulating his campaign message.
Ask a politics watcher to name a memory from the 2024 campaign… and if they’re not talking about the assassination attempts, chances are they’d mention the garbage truck and/or Trump’s McDonald’s French fry drive-through window service.
Talk about free “earned media” advertising. How could the Trump campaign have done it any better?
Trump also sought to make his inauguration an international event, inviting several notable foreign leaders to be there, but, as Ferrechio reported, not extending the privilege to the current president of Mexico… and presumably the prime minister of Canada, either.
Congeniality only extends so far. Invite everyone and it cheapens the value of the gesture.
Judging by the volume of texts I’ve personally received, the Trump planners have decided to invite most anyone who was an open Trump campaign supporter to come to Washington.
The garbage truck will be there. Carrie Underwood will sing. The Village People will make an appearance at an event as well. It’s certain there will be a lot of people there who one wouldn’t normally expect to be seen next to Trump. A freakish Star Wars bar scene it won’t be – but it just might be distinctive enough to be unforgettable.
A different take on the Star Wars bar scene: CAUTION! Not PC!
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