Remember when the “resistance” was going to save democracy? Those were the days: when knitting pink hats was considered a revolutionary act, and every weekend brought another march against the dreaded Orange Man.
The liberal establishment promised that if Trump ever returned to power, millions would flood the streets in righteous protest.
Well, it turns out that righteous anger is a lot less appealing when the temperature drops below 20°F. As Donald Trump prepared to take the oath of office for his historic second term, the mighty resistance could barely muster enough protesters to fill a Starbucks. Even the megaphones showed up in greater numbers than the actual protesters.
Perhaps the most telling sign of the times wasn’t who showed up to protest Trump’s inauguration – it was who didn’t.
The suburban activists who once organized bus caravans to Washington were nowhere to be found. The Women’s March organizers, who drew millions in 2017, couldn’t even gather hundreds in 2025.
“No one cares!” – Trump supporter to communist protesters at Lafayette Square
The Great Resistance Meltdown
According to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s on-scene reporting, protest organizers ANSWER Coalition and People’s Forum promised 10,000 demonstrators would converge on Malcolm X Park at 9:00 AM.
By noon, only dozens had braved the January cold, huddled around unused megaphones and holding soggy signs in the snow.
“We are here on a day that is so cold that they decided to put the inauguration indoors,” one speaker declared to rows of empty chairs. “But for us, we’re saying that we will be here no matter what, no matter how cold it is!” The weather, apparently, had other plans.
From Mainstream to Extreme
The few protesters who did show up appeared more focused on radical demands than mainstream political opposition.
Their platform included releasing what they termed “Palestinian political prisoners” and demanding “the abolition of police, prisons, and cages.” The coup de grâce: a wooden guillotine with fake blood and the ominous inscription “come get sum.”
By 2:00 PM at Lafayette Square, the scene had become almost comical. About two dozen self-described “revolutionary communists” found themselves consistently outnumbered by passing Trump supporters, who responded with grins and occasional blasts from ceremonial ram’s horns.
A Tale of Two Inaugurations
The contrast with 2017 couldn’t be starker. Trump’s first inauguration sparked massive protests that led to over 200 arrests, property damage, and widespread disruption.
Eight years later, law enforcement reported zero arrests and spent most of their time directing traffic around the sparse gatherings.
“I was here eight years ago. This is 1% of that,” observed Anneka Hall, a Trump supporter from California who came to witness both the protests and the inauguration. Even the protesters seemed to acknowledge their diminished impact, with one organizer admitting to TIME magazine that “the fight just isn’t there anymore.”
America’s Verdict
In perhaps the day’s most memorable moment, a Trump supporter wearing both a Palestinian keffiyeh and a MAGA hat exemplified the confusion in the opposition ranks.
“I don’t like what [Trump] does with Zionism, but I do like the rest of his movement and what he’s about,” New York resident Hugh Casey told reporters, managing to perplex everyone equally.
As temperatures continued to drop and protesters drifted away, one passing Trump supporter delivered what might be the most succinct political commentary of the day: “No one cares!” he sang out, while others nearby cheered and waved American flags.
Key Takeaways:
- 10,000 expected to protest Trump’s inauguration, but only dozens showed up, according to reports.
- Radical leftists alienated mainstream Americans with guillotine stunts.
- Trump supporters showed greater enthusiasm despite the freezing weather.
- The liberal movement’s dramatic decline since 2017 signals conservative momentum.
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