Fuelled by patriotism and a hatred of all things woke, it’s party time for Donald Trump supporters in DC

USA, USA,” and “Donald Trump. Yeah” are the words defining my long weekend in Washington.

The level of patriotism Americans are showing for their new leader is a sight to behold. American flags, MAGA hats, Donald Trump puppets and life-sized fake Donald Trumps on a surfboard are some highlights.

I was here in 2017 and drove into Washington in a Trumpmobile with a Bikers for Trump motorcade, yet somehow this year has trumped that.

“We’re just sick of woke. We’ve had it up to here,” Laura Gregory (65) from Honolulu tells me as we look onto a queue for the Capital One building, where Trump will allegedly appear.

“We’re here with seven others. We’re having a wonderful time.

David Brown, Washington

“We understand about the weather, but we’re just going with the flow,” she says. The fact the inauguration was moved indoors doesn’t really bother anyone.

“We love it. Everybody is just so happy,” Claudia Pokipala (52), also from Hawaii, adds. “We’re just looking at a new era, an end to the tyranny of political correctness, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), immigration.”

The overriding vibe around this inauguration is America is ushering in a new era of freedom of expression.

The first amendment, which protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition, is what this election is about, she adds.

“I mean, the Covid scam. I’m a nurse and I’m wondering why did Biden pardon [Anthony] Fauci if he isn’t guilty? I’m so glad we can just say this stuff now. You guys will follow.”

As I wander around the streets, I see people from all walks of life with happy faces and MAGA paraphernalia. Young, old, black, white, Asian, Haitian, rich, poor, middle class, there’s no section of society that didn’t queue up to see Trump. I even bought a hat myself.

The seller Rasheed (47) tells me: “They’re not buying as much stuff as when Obama won. I guess they have it all already.”

David Brown, who sells Trump pendants, agrees. He’s not a “fan of either”. They’re both terrible. “The current administration is evil and Trump could be a plant. Who knows?”

I love Americans. They even enticed me to join a queue. Woken by roars of “Yee-haa!”, I saw people gathered outside my hotel, close to the Capital One arena where he gave a speech on Sunday. I decided to follow the queue and ended up on the other side of Memorial Park, 4km away.

“We’re not stupid either. He’s a narcissist, and he’s got his own interests. But he’s a businessman. That’s why we voted for him. He’s not a politician,” Ted Bikulsky (69), from Ocean City, Maryland, says.

His friend, Larry Wiedemer (64) adds: “We’ve always been Trump supporters. He’s the only candidate with the vitriol that is experienced from the so-called ‘liberal’ left.

“We need a secure border. We can’t accommodate people coming in. Trump will do what he says he’ll do. The alternative wasn’t worth thinking about.”

“Thankfully we have the second amendment – the right to bear arms, if that didn’t work out,” a woman in the queue chimed in. “Ya’ll don’t care for free speech as much in Europe as we do over here. You guys are f****d,” she adds.

I had a rucksack with me, and pondered if anyone would check it. They didn’t. “The security should check the queues too,” Larry adds.

The only voices I heard on a megaphone were those of the God people.

They were taking turns talking about salvation and the second coming of the Lord. Even they were respectful. Thankfully, once I got word that there was no point in waiting, I left, but people were still standing.

“Isn’t it amazing everyone’s here for one guy,” a man says. I couldn’t help but say: “D’ya think?” No one should be elevated to that level.

“Oh yeah,” two ladies from Florida agree. “We know what he’s like, we’re smart, so we’re not just going to let him get away with everything.”

This was comforting. Everyone was nice. I only met one “deplorable”.

Barbara McCarthy

Emboldened by the free speech absolutism of Trump, a cowboy from the mid-west walked into a bar in front of me and thought he could share a ­story about Babe Ruth using the ‘N’ word to describe it. “It’s part of the story, so it’s fine,” was his reasoning.

I was unnerved. Next thing, security removed him. He made a scene, refused to pay for his drinks and called everyone a racist, as he was frog-marched out of the building.

“Oh God,” the ladies beside me say. “It’s people like him who give Trump supporters a bad name. Jeez, you all in Europe think we’re all like that.”

“That’s just not cool at all,” a bunch of guys from Florida agree. “No matter what, free speech is fine, but no, we don’t do racism.

“We’re just ordinary folks, who are sick of woke.”