As Donald Trump prepares to assume the presidency for the second time, many Washington DC residents are choosing to leave the city during his inauguration. Alejandra Whitney-Smith and June Williams Colman are among those opting for a quieter, less tumultuous environment. Whitney-Smith plans to retreat to a cabin with no technology, while Colman will head to Lake Tahoe with her daughter. Meanwhile, Trump has vowed significant changes for the capital, including a potential overhaul of the federal workforce with the help of tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Hotels in Washington DC are seeing high demand, with 70% occupancy reported as of Wednesday. Prices range from $900 to $1,500 per night. Despite this, several residents are opting out of being in the city during the inauguration. Tia Butler, another DC resident, initially planned to host friends but has now decided to spend the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in California instead. The memory of the January 6 riot looms large, influencing her decision to avoid the city during these potentially charged festivities.
Alejandra Whitney-Smith recalls the fear she felt during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, where her mother was working at the Library of Congress. She expressed a strong desire to avoid what she perceives as "hostile negative energy" in the city during the inauguration.
“I just remember that feeling of fear for her and then also just concern for me being in the city. I just knew for me – I didn’t want to be around that sort of hostile negative energy.” – Alejandra Whitney-Smith
Whitney-Smith had hoped for a different election outcome, expressing disappointment over Trump's win and the broader implications she sees for America.
“represents the ugly side of America that people don’t want to acknowledge” – Alejandra Whitney-Smith
“I guess I maybe mistakenly had a lot of faith that people saw what happened during the first administration and I figured we as a country wouldn’t regress” – Alejandra Whitney-Smith
“But I also know the reality of living in this country as a Black woman. As much as I wanted Harris to win, there was something in me that still told me that America is not ready for their first Black woman president. Not only that, she was running against Donald Trump who has an almost cult-like following that is so powerful” – Alejandra Whitney-Smith
June Williams Colman had initially been confident in Kamala Harris's chances, purchasing airline tickets to DC shortly after Biden's announcement. However, with Trump's victory, she changed her plans, opting for a peaceful getaway with her daughter instead.
Trump's campaign rhetoric has been harsh towards Washington DC, branding it as a "filthy and crime-ridden embarrassment." He has consistently distanced himself from the city both physically and ideologically, a stance he maintained throughout his campaign. This sentiment has resonated with many residents who find themselves at odds with the president-elect's vision.
Tia Butler shares these sentiments, feeling disconnected from Trump's supporters and preferring to distance herself during his inauguration.
“I have a fundamental set of beliefs and values that differ greatly from the supporters of the president-elect, so it is best that I just remove myself” – Tia Butler
Butler's disappointment is palpable as she reflects on what Trump's re-election signifies for her.
“It says to me that we’d rather have a criminal leading our country than a person of color, or a criminal rather than a woman” – Tia Butler
During Trump's first presidency, Washington witnessed several contentious events, including his controversial photo op holding a Bible at the site of dispersed George Floyd protests. This history of conflict and division continues to influence residents' perspectives and decisions surrounding this inauguration.
Despite losing to Nikki Haley in DC's Republican primary election and polling poorly against Kamala Harris in the general election, Trump's influence remains significant. His plans for radical changes in Washington have elicited mixed reactions from residents and politicians alike.