With Donald Trump taking the oath of office today to become the 47th president of the United States, reaction in the Southland was, not unexpectedly, split along party lines — with Republicans hailing his return to the White House as a “glorious day” and Democrats casting a critical and often harsh eye, particularly in regard to wildfire relief, immigration policy and LGBTQ+ issues.
“On this glorious day we pray that God continues to watch over President @realDonaldTrump, Vice President @JDVance, and the entire United States of America,” the Republican Party of Los Angeles County posted on X.
“The Golden Age of America has begun.” Will O’Neill, chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, shared similar sentiments on the social-media platform, echoing Trump’s declaration of a “new day” in America. But Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair Mark Ramos took a distinctly different tack, saying “Inaugurations are meant to inspire hope and remind us of the shared values that bind us as a nation. But we heard something entirely different today (in Trump’s inaugural address).”
“His message was clear,” Ramos said. “If you don’t see the world as he does, you’re not just wrong — you’re an enemy. And enemies, he promises, will face retribution. This is not leadership. It’s fearmongering.” He continued, “… We as Democrats believe in a country of opportunity, justice, and respect, and we will continue to fight for that, no matter what.”
With the vast majority of elected leaders in the Southland being Democrats, similar reactions were plentiful on Monday, though they varied in harshness. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom took a hopeful but wary tone, posting on X, “As our nation observes the peaceful transfer of power, we are reminded of the enduring principles that underpin our democracy: finding common ground and striving toward shared goals.”
In the wake of the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires, Newsom stressed the Southland’s need for federal help in the long recovery ahead. “In the face of one of the worst natural disasters in America’s history, this moment underscores the critical need for partnership, a shared commitment to facts, and mutual respect — values that enable civil discourse, effective governance, and meaningful action,” Newsom said.
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, also highlighted the Los Angeles area’s need for federal cooperation in the wake of the wildfires, but expressed skepticism about whether political partisanship would play a role in the Trump administration’s response.
“Trump’s second term will define his legacy, and history will ultimately remember him by the leadership — or lack thereof — that he demonstrates in helping California respond, recover, and rebuild from these fires,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. “I urge Donald Trump to direct Congressional Republicans to put the pitchforks down and deliver the disaster relief that California urgently needs. ‘America First’ means federal aid without conditions.”
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, — the House of Representatives’ lead impeachment manager during the first impeachment proceeding of Trump’s first term, and a frequent target of Trump’s vitriol — said in a statement early Monday, “Today marks the start of a new Presidential Administration. I congratulate President Trump and hope that we can all work together on behalf of the American people.”
“There are many challenges facing our country, and we must find a way to tackle them,” he added. “I am ready to partner with my Republican colleagues on any issue where we can find common ground. To bring down costs, to build housing, and to create more jobs.” He continued “To address the crime that is affecting so many and to fix an economy that seems to work best for those at the very top and big corporations. To protect our freedoms, increase opportunity for our families, and shore up our standing around the globe. And to secure necessary aid to help California recover and rebuild from this month’s tragic wildfires.”
Schiff, of Burbank, also said, “ I am clear-eyed about the challenges we may face. Our differences can feel extreme at times. And California, I will never back down when our rights are threatened, our values are under attack, or our communities are demonized.” But later Monday — after Trump gave pardons to many of the protesters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 as his loss to Joe Biden was about to be certified — Schiff called the move “a sick betrayal of the rule of law.”
Regarding immigration issues, and Trump’s vows of mass deportations, a rally dubbed by organizers as a “Protest Rally Against Trump Agenda: No Deportations” was held at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights on Monday. It focused on what Trump has called “the largest deportation operation in American history,” but also included calls for reproductive rights and for the U.S. to “stand with Palestine.”
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, vice chair of communications for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, affirmed the group’s commitment to protecting Latino families and marginalized communities.
“Hispanic Americans are shaping the future of this nation, and the CHC is ready to work with President Trump to uplift Latino communities across every sector,” Torres said in a statement. “We look forward to working with this administration to deliver for Latino families. But let me be clear: If harmful rhetoric or policies persist, the CHC will not hesitate to set the record straight and advocate for the growth and success of our community,’’ she added.
Meanwhile, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the nation’s largest network of Asian American and Pacific Islander civil rights organizations, said it, too, will continue efforts to protect immigrant rights. Among Trump’s blitz of executive orders Monday was also a decree dismantling federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
In addition, during his inaugural address, Trump said the U.S. would recognize only two genders — male and female. The Los Angeles LGBT Center called those moves threats to the LGBTQ+ and trans communities. Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner said in a statement. “The next four years will be consequential for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those already facing the compounded impacts of racism, transphobia, xenophobia, and economic injustice.” He added “…The center will fight to protect federal funding for Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, HIV services, and LGBT-specific intimate partner violence programs, despite scare tactics by members of the Trump administration to cut these services.”
