Welcome to our live blog. USA TODAY Network – Florida covers the Florida connection during President Trump’s inauguration in Washington, DC.
From notable figures to celebrations to the controversial policies of the first day, we highlight Floridians and the impact this historic day had on the Sunshine State.
Check back here throughout the day to follow the glitz and politics, share important insights, and follow our footsteps in Florida’s capital.
Other coverage: Fact-checking the presidential inauguration: Analysis of Trump and the claims about him
Florida officials begin arriving at the Capitol
10:35 a.m. – Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Sen. Marco Rubio step off a bus at the Capitol. Bondi was nominated by President Trump to be attorney general, taking the job after Congressman Matt Gaetz resigned due to uncertainty about his confirmation. Rubio was nominated by President Trump to be Secretary of State. Rubio, who will soon be a U.S. senator, is expected to be confirmed smoothly.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, and other lawmakers also filed in the Capitol Rotunda. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat, followed in the footsteps of Rep. Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat who was key to Joe Biden’s 2020 support. Frankel and other Democrats, like Donald, will likely be in the minority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Trump begins his second term as president.
Sheila Cherfils McCormick, another member of Palm Beach County’s congressional delegation, entered the rotunda. Charfilas McCormick, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties, is fighting ethics charges related to the coronavirus against his home health care business in a Florida lawsuit.
Read more: Florida files COVID-19-related lawsuit for accidentally overpaying company $5 million
Puerto Rico Governor takes selfie with DeSantis
10:28 a.m. – Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer Gonzalez posts a selfie taken from the Capitol Rotunda with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey on X. This is where Trump will soon be sworn into office.
Gonzalez served as a non-voting member of Congress alongside DeSantis during his time in the House. “At the Capitol, my good friend and former colleague in Congress, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis, were preparing for the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States,” she said. wrote.
Trulieve’s Kim Rivers attends inauguration ceremony in Washington, DC
10:21 a.m. – Kim Rivers, CEO of Florida-based medical marijuana giant Trulieve, is in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration. On Sunday night, she posted a photo of a candlelight dinner held at the National Building Museum on X.
“The second night is a candlelit dinner. A beautiful venue where @realDonaldTrump will give a speech the night before the inauguration,” she said.
President Trump supported last year’s Third Amendment ballot initiative in Florida that legalized pot for recreational use by adults. He received 56% support from voters statewide, falling four points short of the 60% needed to amend the state constitution.
And Trulieve has funneled much of the more than $150 million received by Smart & Safe Florida, the group behind the legalization campaign, into pushing for the amendment.
The Trump family begins arriving at the Capitol.
9:54 a.m. – Some of Trump’s family, including his daughters, sons and their spouses, begin arriving at the U.S. Capitol, where Trump is scheduled to be sworn in at noon.
Four years and two weeks ago, angry Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, forcing then-Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress into hiding. Many of the rioters were convicted of various crimes in the months following the January 6 riot. President Trump is poised to pardon these rioters if he becomes president again.
The four stopped for a photo before the Bidens escorted the Trumps to the White House.
The Last Waltz: Florida congressman plans to resign today
9:42 a.m. – U.S. Congressman Mike Walz will resign today to become President-elect Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor.
The resignation gave Republicans a 218-215 advantage over Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. Walz, 50, has been a member of Congress since 2019.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has already called a special election to replace Walz. The primary election is January 28th, and the general election is April 1st. State Sen. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) has received President Trump’s support for the seat, even though he does not live in the district.
D.C.’s DeSantis talks about weather with Carson Beck
9:37 a.m. – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is in Washington and posts a photo of him and Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on X.
He friendly criticized former University of Georgia quarterback Carson Kemp over his transfer to the University of Miami.
“Discussing Carson Beck heading to the ‘U’ next season (and this week’s snowstorm heading to North Florida and South Georgia) with @GovKemp before the 47 party inauguration…” he posted on Monday morning. did.
Coffee and tea with the Bidens and the Trumps
9:26 a.m. – Outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala and their spouses meet at the White House with plans to invite President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump for coffee and tea.
Mr. Trump did not uphold that tradition when he lost to Mr. Biden in 2020, but Mr. Biden, who served as a senator for many years before being elected president and was an astute observer of Washington tradition, is a man of power. We’re trying to revive all notions of smooth transitions. In the US.
Trump and Vance go to church with Florida’s Marco Rubio
9:20 a.m. – President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance attended St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square near the White House on Monday morning, just hours before being sworn in. .
Many incoming presidents, dating back to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, have attended a short service at St. John’s before their inauguration. And there’s another reason St. John’s has ties to President Trump. It was the church where President Trump awkwardly posed for a photo while holding a Bible in 2020 during protests following the killing of George Floyd.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance attended the ceremony along with their families and other members of the incoming administration, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is expected to be confirmed as the next secretary of state today. Trump family members in attendance included wife Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and sons Barron Trump and Eric Trump.
New day, old ways? Florida foreshadows Trump administration
To get you in the mood for today, here’s a recent preview article about the incoming administration by Florida Capital Bureau reporter John Kennedy.
More than a dozen Floridians have already been named to Cabinet and other positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, potentially further revealing the state’s influence in policies rapidly rolling out of the White House. .
The state’s “war on the woke,” for example, parallels President Trump’s pending attacks on federal workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The planned “Day One” attacks on immigration and energy policy are also a large-scale version of what Florida experienced under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The polarizing, far-right policies instilled in Florida during six years of Mr. DeSantis’ leadership could foreshadow many of the policies the federal government will roll out after Mr. Trump takes the oath of office on Monday.
Read the rest here.
