WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump was lined by 17 photographers for Reuters in Washington. From a chook’s eye view of the U.S. capital to the president’s desk setting for luncheon to trash left strewn exterior safety checkpoints, Reuters was there to seize the pomp and ceremony, the hope and celebrations of supporters, and the fears and protests of opponents.
The unique, rigorously laid plans of stories organizations had been thrown into disarray on Friday, when a forecast of snow and freezing temperatures led to last-minute modifications. The swearing-in ceremony itself was moved from a stage exterior the Capitol, the place it might have taken place in entrance of huge crowds, to the small, packed Capitol rotunda indoors.
Some Trump supporters nonetheless gravitated to the now largely empty and frosty Nationwide Mall garden, watching the occasion on their telephones. Others huddled in lodge bars, whereas some scored coveted tickets to the 20,000-seater Capital One (NYSE:) Enviornment. A parade initially supposed to go down Pennsylvania Avenue occurred within the area as an alternative, whereas Trump and a few of his important allies additionally gave speeches there to an emotional crowd.
Photographers had been there to cowl all of it for Reuters – and elsewhere too, together with the steps of the White Home, the highest of the Washington Monument, and at anti-Trump protests.
Under is a number of some Reuters photos taken in the course of the occasions of the day and within the lead-up to it, together with feedback from the photographers who took them.
Fabrizio Bensch
“Back in September 2024 I started planning the implementation of robotic and remote cameras for the U.S. president’s inauguration. When I arrived here at the beginning of January we started to prepare everything for the inauguration outside on the Capitol Hill platform. And then the unexpected news came that due to the cold weather everything would take place in the rotunda.
“Now there have been solely three days to replan all the things. We had been assigned to a place the place we may mount two distant cameras on a lighting truss precisely reverse the president’s platform place on the inauguration. These cameras had been related to the community and had been capable of ship all of the photographs from the rotunda dwell to the editors within the Washington Reuters bureau.”
Brendan McDermid
“This was my fourth inauguration over 25 years. Each has been distinctive, and this one is not any exception. I drew the fortunate job of being atop the Washington Monument. Sadly after they introduced that all the things was transferring inside my place turned much less related. That did not cease me from taking a second to understand the place I used to be this morning, because the sky turned orange simply earlier than the daybreak, trying down upon the Nationwide Mall and the Capitol Constructing.”
Daniel Cole
“The temper on the Mall was eerie because it was largely empty, however the crowd of supporters who did come out had been completely elated and lots of expressed a common feeling of reduction that their man was again in energy. This one couple had introduced tenting chairs and sat within the empty Mall, watching the ceremony on their cellphone collectively.”
Jeenah Moon
“As winter grips Washington, the air was frigid, one of many coldest days of the season. I made positive to layer up in heat clothes – thick thermals, a comfy wool sweater, hand heaters and a heavy coat – to defend myself from the biting chill. Moreover, I rigorously ready my digicam gear, guaranteeing the batteries had been absolutely charged, because the chilly can drain them quicker than traditional. I used to be decided to seize each second, irrespective of how lengthy the day that stretched forward of me.”
Kevin Lamarque
“As a Reuters employees photographer for over 37 years, with the previous 25 in Washington, I’ve lined campaigns, elections and inaugurations aplenty. This inauguration, nevertheless, was properly exterior the field. The opposite six inaugurations I lined had been all outdoor, as is the custom. Little question tons of of members of the media and 1000’s of Trump supporters had been massively disenchanted. However disappointment is less complicated to beat than frostbite or hypothermia.”
Marko Djurica
“That is my first time working within the U.S. and, after all, which means it is my first inauguration. I may possibly examine it to the coronation of King Charles that I did in London, however that is larger. Safety sensible, it’s unbelievably safe and there is police in all places, streets are closed and the most important problem was to maneuver from one anti-Trump protest to the inauguration contained in the secured perimeter.”
Shannon Stapleton
“For the final three or 4 elections on inauguration days I’ve been assigned to cowl the Mall space, the place the individuals assemble. This yr it was totally different, as a result of it was held contained in the Capital One Enviornment, so that you needed to simply sort of transfer round and alter – which made the job simpler, as a result of it was extra like road images.”
Brian Snyder
“I’ve lined inaugurations since 2004 and the president-elect dancing with the Village Folks is like nothing I’ve seen earlier than. All through the marketing campaign, Trump would finish most of his rallies dancing to a recording of ‘YMCA.’ This was the primary time he was joined by the band itself. In fact the gang of supporters gathered right here cherished each minute.”
Mike Segar
“These are essential moments in historical past … and we’re lucky to witness these moments and convey them to a world viewers.”
Amanda Perobelli
“I’ve solely been to at least one presidential inauguration – in Brazil – and it’s attention-grabbing to see the distinction in cultures. There are some similarities as properly – the feelings, individuals ready, cheering and this sense of being a part of historical past. The problem for me is the chilly, for positive, as we do not have chilly like this in Brazil.”
Evelyn Hockstein
“I assumed Melania Trump’s hat was an attention-grabbing look. I may by no means see her eyes so it does not shock me it bought loads of buzz. It was so visible and within the few moments that I had a transparent shot of Melania I spent most likely all of them photographing her and the hat in opposition to this clear backdrop with President Trump sitting subsequent to her in the course of the luncheon.”
Nathan Howard
“My important position in the present day was to seize the morning arrival of Trump for tea with (outgoing President Joe) Biden, after which Trump’s arrival again to the White Home following his swearing-in. The temper this morning amongst Biden staffers felt considerably just like the final day of faculty earlier than commencement – many staffers saying goodbye to one another and packing up, others craning their necks to catch a glimpse of Trump’s arrival.
“It’s a rare and fascinating thing to witness two icons of American political life in one room. Each of them is normally the most important person in any room they’re in. Now they are sharing the stage as power transitions.”
Elizabeth Frantz
“The biggest challenge for me was not knowing in advance whether I would be outdoors in a fixed position for six hours straight or just one to two hours at a time. The last thing I wanted was to be inside sweating in all my warm layers only to then go back outside. But I managed! I survived the chill, and then quickly changed into semi-formal wear I stored in the photo office on Capitol Hill before heading to the Liberty Ball (NYSE:).”
Jim Urquhart
“I’ve specialized in covering armed extremist groups for over a decade in America. This includes several years of covering the Proud Boys in their homes and in their communities. This was a smaller gathering than most of the ones I’ve covered. But it shows that the Proud Boys are still here – or rather, never went away.”
Leah Millis
“This time I was covering a small group of protesters. They started at a park and marched near downtown but stayed about a mile away. The energy is different because (it is) people who are not happy about the incoming administration. There’s anger, chanting, but also music so there are people dancing and people providing support to each other in the form of water, snacks and hand warmers.”
Kevin Mohatt
“It being Martin Luther King Day, I went to the MLK Memorial where I saw several people who were in town for the inauguration. Since they weren’t able to view it, they went to the memorial instead. Having the event moved indoors made it challenging to plan around. It became a matter of figuring out where people might be and where is the best place to capture the images that tell the story of the day beyond what was happening under the dome.”
Carlos Barria
“For Inauguration Day I have a very dynamic and fast-paced assignment. We accompany the new president everywhere he goes until he makes his last move for the day, and then we head back home. The challenges are many: from dealing with the cold weather in black tie, to the long hours, with very few breaks to eat. (But) I always say this job is a front seat to history, and I will have the privilege of witnessing it.”
