WASHINGTON — As President-elect Donald Trump prepared to take office again, he wanted to celebrate his electoral victory with his supporters.

“We won,” he exclaimed at the rally held at Capital One Arena in Washington. “What a great feeling! We love winning, right?”

Trump mentioned that he would sign several executive orders on Inauguration Day, which he assured would thrill his supporters, hinting at a promise to pardon those involved in the January 6 incident.

“Tomorrow marks the most forceful and comprehensive effort to secure our borders that the world has ever seen,” Trump stated, outlining the plans for his administration, which included large-scale deportations.

He told his audience: “We need to steer our nation in the right direction. By the time the sun sets tomorrow, the invasion of our borders will cease.”

Trump also promised to safeguard TikTok and “act with unprecedented speed and strength to resolve every crisis” the nation is facing. He committed to declassifying documents concerning the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. and directed the military to start establishing a missile defense system like Israel’s Iron Dome.

“And as of today, TikTok is back,” he declared, receiving cheers, and credited the platform for his popularity among younger voters. Trump later brought Elon Musk, owner of X, up on the stage, mentioning earlier discussions with Tim Cook from Apple.

For many of Trump’s followers, this rally was their only chance to see the soon-to-be president in person over the holiday weekend, as his inauguration was moved indoors due to cold weather.

Earlier in the day, Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and arrived in Washington on Saturday, where he also viewed a fireworks show at his golf course in Sterling, Virginia.

‘Many opposed us once we endorsed Trump’

The Sunday rally featured a diverse lineup, including performances by rapper Kid Rock as well as Puerto Rican artists Anuel AA and Justin Quiles, alongside actor Jon Voight, who served as opening acts.

“A lot of people turned against us after I spoke out in favor of Trump,” Anuel AA reflected on his endorsement of Trump, which he maintained after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made controversial comments about Puerto Rico that received bipartisan criticism.

The rapper stated that efforts to tarnish the image of the president-elect were “all in vain,” based on the election results.

“I believe this next four years will be an incredible journey. I am confident he will accomplish many great things for the entire Spanish community,” he stated.

Stephen Miller, a Trump advisor and incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, delivered a fiery speech addressing the administration’s strategies to tackle illegal immigration. He informed the crowd that on Monday, the new president would sign an executive order “to end the border invasion and send illegal immigrants back home,” which would also target “criminal cartels and foreign gangs.”

“Accountability is coming. Justice is on its way,” Miller asserted. “The entire federal system is about to learn that they don’t work for themselves; they work for you, for President Trump, and for the American people.”

Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly took several minutes to condemn President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She claimed that Harris “pretended to be intelligent” and accused her of using a fake accent, referring to it as a “phony Jamaican accent” and a disingenuous “preacher accent” as she criticized Trump’s election rival.

Steve Witkoff credits Trump for the release of Israeli hostages

The rally occurred shortly after Hamas released the first group of Israeli hostages, three women, as part of an agreement that had been negotiated by the Biden administration for months, which acknowledged collaboration with Trump’s team to finalize the deal.

Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East spoke from the stage, sharing that he had just received photos of the freed hostages.

“We had a fantastic team. But this wouldn’t have happened without Donald J. Trump. The president played a critical role in this release, and we owe him a great deal of gratitude,” Steve Witkoff stated, ensuring Trump received acknowledgment for the agreement.

Although there were long lines around the arena, the upper deck of the 20,000-seat venue was not fully occupied when Trump took the stage. Some supporters reported waiting as early as 4 a.m. to enter the rally, while others waited around half an hour.

Trump’s supporters believe he has a ‘clear agenda’

Liz Veysey, a 67-year-old retired federal employee from Oregon, arrived at the arena at approximately 5:45 a.m. with her two sisters and granddaughter. A lifelong registered Democrat, she had never attended a Trump rally before. She donned an inauguration day sweatshirt, campaign buttons, and red, white, and blue star-shaped glasses.

“I wish I had done this sooner. Sometimes travel just isn’t feasible. It’s rare for people to come to Oregon,” Veysey mentioned.

She had originally planned to go to the inauguration with her family, but when it was moved indoors to the U.S. Capitol, they decided to attend Trump’s rally instead.

Kenny Oakes, 69, and his wife Andrea, 58, who traveled from Sevierville, Tennessee, highlighted the economy and grocery prices as key concerns as Trump prepares to return to office.

“I believe he has a solid vision for what he wants to accomplish, and this time, he will be much more effective because he has prior experience in office and has had time to reflect on his previous tenure,” Kenny said. “I believe he will assemble a better team to support his initiatives.”

The retired couple stated they voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. “We backed him from the very beginning,” Andrea added. “Whenever there’s been a chance to vote for Trump, we have done so.”