January 18th 2025.
As the day of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration approaches, many residents of Washington, D.C. are choosing to leave the DMV area in anticipation of the large crowds and potentially tense atmosphere. With Republicans and conservatives flooding the city for the January 20th event, some residents are feeling overwhelmed and can't wait to get away.
According to a report from The Guardian, residents like Alejandra Whitney-Smith have already made plans to leave the city during the inauguration weekend. For Whitney-Smith, the decision was easy - she usually spends her birthday weekend in D.C., but after the election, she knew she couldn't be there. She explained, "I just couldn't be around that sort of hostile, negative energy."
The upcoming inauguration holds particular stress for Whitney-Smith, as her mother was working at the Library of Congress during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, which many believe was incited by Trump. She recalls the fear she felt for her mother's safety and the concern she had for her own well-being in the city during such a tumultuous time. "Trump represents the ugly side of America that people don't want to acknowledge," she added. "I had hoped that as a country, we wouldn't regress, but unfortunately, that's not the case."
As an attorney and a Black woman, Whitney-Smith also reflects on the significance of this time for her personally. She admits that while she wanted Kamala Harris to win, she had a feeling that America was not yet ready for its first Black woman president. And with Trump's strong following, she knew it would be a tough battle. "There's something powerful about his almost cult-like following," she explained.
Whitney-Smith's perspective is vastly different from the hundreds of conservatives who are flocking to D.C. for the inauguration. Hotels in the area are reportedly booked up to 70%, with rooms going for exorbitant prices of $900 to $1,500 a night. This is a stark contrast to Trump's previous opinion of the city, which he called "filthy and crime-ridden" during his 2024 presidential campaign.
And while many notable figures, such as Michelle Obama, are choosing not to attend the inauguration, conservatives are eagerly making their way to D.C. to show their support for Trump. It's a divisive time for the nation, with people on both sides of the political spectrum preparing for what is sure to be a historic and memorable day.
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