Many Washington, DC, residents are opting to leave the city during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, citing concerns over potential unrest and a desire to avoid the tense atmosphere, The Guardian reported.
Alejandra Whitney-Smith, a DC attorney, plans to spend the weekend in a cabin with friends, prioritizing reflection and relaxation. “When the election happened, I told myself, ‘Oh, no, I can’t be here,’” she said. Recalling the fear she experienced during the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021, when her mother was at the Library of Congress, she added, “I just knew for me – I didn’t want to be around that sort of hostile negative energy.”
Meanwhile, Trump supporters are preparing for the inauguration, with hotels in DC reporting nearly 70% occupancy. Room rates range from $900 to $1,500 per night, reflecting the surge in visitors for the event.
Another resident, Tia Butler, has decided to leave DC as well, planning to spend the weekend in California to avoid the emotional strain of staying in the city. “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,” Butler said. She also expressed discomfort over past events, including the Capitol riot and protests after the 2020 election. Trump’s criticism of Washington, DC, has been a recurring theme, with him calling the city “filthy and crime ridden” during his campaign and pledging to overhaul its political establishment.
Trump’s first term saw limited participation in the city’s cultural and political life, as he skipped events like the Kennedy Center Honors and the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Houston-based physician June Williams Colman had initially planned to travel to DC for what she hoped would be a Kamala Harris inauguration. She reflected on the excitement in Martha’s Vineyard when Joe Biden announced he wouldn’t seek re-election and endorsed Harris. “It was such a powerful moment,” Colman said. However, after the election results, she canceled her plans and decided to spend the weekend in Lake Tahoe with her daughter. Comparing past experiences, Colman noted, “In 2016 when Hillary [Clinton] lost, we still came to DC in 2017 because they had the Women’s March. It was so exciting, and I really wanted my daughter to see that. But it’s not the same now.”
