Victory Rally to kick off Trump’s presidential term with 20,000 supporters

Donald Trump is set to hold a major rally in Washington on January 19, the day before he is inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States.

The "Victory Rally," as it is being called, will take place at the Capitol One Arena in the District of Columbia, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Trump, known for his preference for rally-style events where he can interact freely with supporters, will use this opportunity to address his base before the formal inauguration ceremony at the US Capitol on January 20.

“This is President Trump’s VICTORY RALLY the DAY before being sworn in as the 47th President — the crowd needs to be HUGE!” an email to supporters advertising the event stated.

The rally will be held indoors at the arena, which can hold about 20,000 people. Security will be tight due to the national special security status of the inauguration, which enables federal funds to be allocated and facilitates collaboration with local law enforcement.

In an unusual move, Trump has invited world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, to attend the inauguration. While it remains unclear if any leaders will attend, the gesture signals Trump’s willingness to blend international diplomacy with the US political tradition of a presidential inauguration.

As he prepares for his presidency, Trump has outlined several key promises. These include launching a mass deportation initiative on his first day in office and implementing massive tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico unless they take stronger actions against illegal immigration and drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl. He has also pledged to work quickly to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has been raging for nearly three years under Russia’s invasion.

This rally marks Trump’s first appearance in the D.C. metropolitan area since January 6, 2021. On that day, Trump spoke at a rally on the Ellipse, near the White House, before his supporters stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to block the certification of the 2020 election results. The ensuing unrest led to the death of one demonstrator, who was shot by police, along with several other unrelated deaths from medical emergencies.

Trump won the 2024 election in a contest against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, and Republicans gained control of the US Senate.

By Tamilla Hasanova