Almost no one showed up to Inauguration Day protests in support of outgoing President Donald Trump on Wednesday. After recent rioting at the U.S. Capitol, authorities implemented very strict security protocols in Washington, D.C., and at state capitols across the country, strict security measures also went into place — and in the face of these protections, Inauguration Day protests turned into what journalist Aaron Rupar described as “complete duds.” Around the time that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were getting sworn in over in D.C., there was one Trump supporter — a guy named Mark Leggiero — outside of the New York state Capitol.
Apparently, Leggiero drove about 45 minutes to be at the capitol and “expected a few thousand [people] here and [was] disappointed,” according to reporter Morgan McKay. Check out an image of the scene below:
Mark Leggiero is the one lone Trump supporter out in front of the NYS Capitol. He says he expected a few thousand ppl here and is disappointed. He said he drove 45 minutes for a peaceful protest pic.twitter.com/hDtCLYFpLq
— Morgan Mckay (@morganfmckay) January 20, 2021
Protests in favor of the outgoing president didn’t fare better elsewhere in the country. In California, there was also just one guy at the state Capitol as the inauguration ceremonies unfolded over in Washington, D.C. Although New York and California are, of course, generally liberal states, millions of Trump voters nevertheless reside there — but this large presence of Trump supporters didn’t translate into any kind of meaningful presence at state capitols. Trumpism is, by all appearances, in retreat. At the very least, it’s a failure — and now, as president, Joe Biden is beginning work to fix the damage.
At the State Capitol in Sacramento, a lone Trump supporter wearing a red MAGA hat protested as President Biden took the oath of office Wednesday.
Live #InaugurationDay updates >> https://t.co/WowWEMPI7l pic.twitter.com/QaSrlvomgd
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) January 20, 2021
Over in New Hampshire, where Trump held a rally prior to Election Day amidst hopes of flipping the state to his side, just a few of the outgoing president’s supporters showed up, while in Arizona, which figured prominently in Trump’s post-election fight against the election outcome, around a dozen Trump supporters were at the state Capitol building in the early afternoon… and that’s it. Reporter Ryan Mac, who was on the scene in Arizona, said that the few Trump supporters who were present were “having a picnic.” In Arizona, Trump’s allies repeatedly claimed that widespread fraud swung the election outcome to Biden, but there was never any legitimate evidence for these claims, which no court ever accepted.
All quiet at the State House — two protestors out front. A third person was here, but he told press he was leaving to go skiing. #nhprinauguration #nhpolitics #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/kxyfJmbg92
— Dan Tuohy (@tuohy) January 20, 2021
The Trump supporters are now having a picnic. One guy is milling about reading 1984. Some have put up Confederate flags here in Arizona, the 48th state admitted to the Union. pic.twitter.com/8HODm1rzLy
— Ryan Mac 🙃 (@RMac18) January 20, 2021
The paltry pro-Trump protests on Inauguration Day unfolded after Trump himself left D.C. hours before Biden’s actual swearing in. For the time being, he’s staying in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago resort, although a Trump Organization agreement with local authorities prohibits anyone from staying at the premises full time. Check out some other images of dismally attended pro-Trump demonstrations below — in Nevada, Kansas, and elsewhere, barely anyone showed up!
The scene just outside Nevada’s capitol complex in Carson City ~ half hour until the Biden’s inauguration kicks off. So far, just two older guys – Brandon and Matt – with signsflags who are frustrated that more people have not showed up. pic.twitter.com/rq2P0opYcs
— Colton Lochhead (@ColtonLochhead) January 20, 2021
Two protestors on the southeast corner of the Kansas Statehouse. One told me he was disappointed so few people showed up. #kakenews #ksleg pic.twitter.com/F2LTpozCOZ
— Pilar Pedraza TV (@PilarPedrazaTV) January 20, 2021
Found a third protestor outside the NC General Assembly in Raleigh. It’s a sleepy scene overall (aside from the considerable law enforcement presence)
As his sign suggests, Gary Morgan of Greensboro doubts the 2020 election results. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/OVUS02ICDY
— Brian Gordon (@BrianSamuel92) January 20, 2021
The demonstrations in Jefferson City are modest, at best. A handful of Trump supporters, two guys with upside down flags on the Capitol steps, a few people with a non-partisan group calling for healing. pic.twitter.com/SydjDcDi48
— Jonathan Ahl (@JonathanAhl) January 20, 2021
Only a few people outside the Texas Capitol Building in Austin. Thomas Jones (Hawaiian shirt) said he and friends drove from Crockett to protest the Inauguration.
He expected more people to be here, but was banned from Facebook so didn’t know if anything was planned. pic.twitter.com/HuLbUbNnT3— Kaley Johnson☀️ (@KaleyAJohnson) January 20, 2021