As Republican President Donald Trump took the oath of office for a second term, Bay Area Democrats and activists who marched on Martin Luther King Jr. Day were in a gloomy mood.
“I’m wearing a T-shirt representing Kamala Devi Harris, for whom I knocked on 2,460 individual voters’ doors in six swing states on nine trips,” Kimberley Rodler, a native of San Francisco, clarified.
Rodler, a Harris campaign volunteer, brought her small Statue of Liberty to the MLK march in San Francisco. She had little to say about the other events of the day, like many others who had come to honor the civil rights legend.
“Donald Trump is like a wildfire of nonsense,” she stated. “And I just wouldn’t follow him to the grocery store.”
State Senator Scott Wiener described the inauguration as a challenge and a hard pill for Democrats.
“You just look at the photos of the inauguration and it’s like this oligarchy that’s gonna start looting the country,” Wiener stated. “Supported by a lot of regular people who are really frustrated with what’s happening in the country, and with government’s inability to do some basic things.”
Democrats need to learn to speak to the people’s needs, he admitted.
“So we are focused, of course, on the evil that Trump brings and defending California, but also trying to understand what we need to do better as government to deliver for people on housing and transportation on all the things that people need so that a grifter like Donald Trump, a scam artist Trump I can’t win elections,” he said.
At Manny’s, a few Democrats gathered to see the speech. Many people were worried about the potential consequences of the early executive orders, and the atmosphere was equally gloomy.
That’s how all of my buddies are. “People are kind of asking themselves, ‘What’s going to happen?'” J’aime Castro remarked. “The Latino population is concerned. “My God, they’re on their way!” My family and I are going to be taken away and expelled. The LGBT community comes next. transgender people. He has previously stated that. What emotions do you anticipate these folks to be experiencing?
Even many who didn’t watch the inauguration or even want to discuss it were thinking about what had happened in Washington. It was a day to direct energy in a different direction, according to Rodler.
“You know, today’s proceedings are disparaging to me when I think about them and maybe for some other people watching,” Rodler stated. “And I know that each one of us has so much to offer and something hopeful that we can do, so go ahead and do that.”
On social media, several Bay Area Democrats shared their opinions about the inauguration.
The hilarious contrast between Trump’s expansionist Inauguration Day speech and his campaign claims portraying him as an anti-war candidate was brought out by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Castro Valley.
“Trump vows to ‘expand our territory’ in the same sentence that he declares ‘no more wars’ and ‘I’m a peacemaker.'” Tell me more. On Monday, Swalwell posted on social media.
Swalwell said that Trump was “whining like a man-baby” and need to “put your big boy pants on and let’s help people” rather than giving a vision of bipartisan administration.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa; Gov. Gavin Newsom; and Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Santa Cruz, all stated that they will try to establish a common ground with the next government.
“There is progress to be made on housing, environmental stewardship, public safety, immigration reform, national security, and more,” Panetta stated. “I will work with anybody and any administration to pursue areas of agreement and aggressively deliver for the people I serve.”
“Rest assured, in the years ahead I plan to work with the president and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on issues where we can find common ground, and to stand against policies and rhetoric that harm the American people and our great country,” Thompson stated.
Newsom stated that the nation requires a fresh dedication to collaboration, facts, and respect for one another in the wake of the tragic fires in Los Angeles and ahead of Trump’s visit to Southern California.
“Where our shared principles are aligned, my administration stands ready to work with the Trump-Vance administration to deliver solutions and serve the nearly 40 million Californians we jointly represent,” Newsom stated.
Trump’s address was described as “dark, dangerous, and authoritarian” by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, who also said that the president is “more hateful and vengeful than ever.”
“It is clear he will make good on his campaign promises of dividing our country, attacking our most vulnerable, clamping down on our freedoms of expression and bodily autonomy, weaponizing law enforcement, and intentionally doing further damage to our ailing planet,” Chiu said, partially in response to Trump’s “drill baby, drill” energy strategy.
Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland, praised outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris for their service on Monday, but he did not explicitly respond to Trump’s speech.
Simon wrote, “We will continue your work of lifting up and fighting for better possibilities for all, not just the few,” and shared Martin Luther King Jr. Day comments.
“From voting and civil rights to economic justice and international peace — Dr. King fought tirelessly to bring America closer to the promise of our founding ideals,” she stated.
During his first press conference as mayor-elect, Daniel Lurie was questioned about Donald Trump’s reelection.
“Listen, I have serious disagreements with President Donald Trump,” he stated in November. “But I will never, I will never let those disagreements get in the way of addressing the problems facing San Francisco.”
The idea that California and San Francisco have their own issues to deal with was mentioned numerous times on Monday. The effort begins now if Democrats’ best response is to address those problems.
This story was given to by Bay City News.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.