News | International
21 Jan 2025 2:16
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Six key takeaways from Donald Trump's pre-inauguration rally

    The Village People, Elon Musk and false claims about violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants — here's everything you need to know about Donald Trump's pre-inauguration rally.


    US president-elect Donald Trump has held a campaign-style rally on the eve of his inauguration, which included famous faces and free-wheeling speeches featuring controversial claims and sweeping promises.

    With supporters lining up in sub-zero conditions to get a seat, Trump used his time on stage to provide a preview of what the first day of his second term in office might look like.

    Trump to repeal 'every radical and foolish executive'

    Just hours from being sworn into office, Trump used his time on stage to lay out his plans for day one.

    He told the crowd they would have a "lot of fun watching television" as he begins the process of repealing executive orders made during the Biden presidency.

    "Somebody said yesterday, 'Sir, don't sign so many in one day, let's do it over a period of weeks,'" he said.

    "I said, 'Like hell, we're going to do it over weeks, we're going to sign them at the beginning.'"

    He said his plan involved handing education "back to the states", which will allow them to enforce their own policies — a proposal put forward by Project 2025.

    He also committed to releasing records related to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, his brother Robert F Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

    TikTok front of mind

    Social media app TikTok has become a hot political issue as Trump returns to the presidency after it shut down to comply with a national ban.

    "As of today, TikTok is back," Trump told the rally, adding he believes it helped win him the "youth vote" at the election.

    "I like it. I had a slightly good experience," he says.

    "Frankly, we have to save it. A lot of jobs."

    Illegal immigration rhetoric continues

    In a wide-ranging speech, Trump said a key focus of his presidency would be sealing the US border with Mexico.

    He said he would go into further detail during his inauguration address about his "aggressive and sweeping efforts" to close the US border.

    Trump said his administration would deal with immigrants moving across the border who were "probably worse than Hannibal Lecter".

    "We're taking in people that shouldn't be here," he claims.

    "They come in from prisons, from jails — they shouldn't be here — from mental institutions…"

    He repeated false claims immigrants were responsible for a significant amount of crime in the US.

    It is rhetoric the MAGA movement has leant on throughout Trump's candidacy, particularly around the murder of college student Laken Riley by an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela last year.

    Trump was supported by his incoming deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, who said he believed the new president would sign an executive order on immigration shortly after taking office.

    He said it would "end the border invasion, sending the illegals home and [take] America back".

    Musk and 'little X' summoned

    A now regular roster of familiar faces who have previously expressed their support for the incoming president were on hand to help rev up the crowd.

    UFC boss Dana White — who spoke at the Republican National Convention and was recently elected to Meta's board of directors — heaped praise on the incoming president, hailing Trump's "incredible comeback story".

    "Think of all the things President Trump had to go through to get back here," Mr White said.

    "All the powerful forces that tried to take him down: the mainstream media, partisan prosecutors, assassins! It's absolutely insane what this man has gone through."

    Actor and newly minted Hollywood "special ambassador" Jon Voight called Trump's victory in the November poll "the great win of all time".

    Tech billionaire Elon Musk — who will head up the new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE — was summoned onstage by Trump to give what sounded like an impromptu speech.

    "So, we're looking, we're looking forward to making a lot of changes, and you know, this victory is the start, really," Mr Musk said.

    He was joined by his four-year-old son X Æ A-Xii, who Mr Musk referred to as "little X".

    Arctic blast chills supporters

    People gathering to celebrate the pre-inauguration rally were greeted with freezing temperatures, rain and even light snow.

    Supporters waited outside the doors of the Capital One Arena, some for hours at a time in minus 4 degrees Celsius weather.

    The weather offered an insight into plans for the inauguration, which has been moved indoors for the first time in 40 years.

    The weather forecast is expected to drop to minus 7C on the day, and will feel even colder due to the wind chill.

    Despite the harsh weather, thousands packed the arena to hear Trump lay out the tone for the next four years.

    It takes a village

    Closing out the rally were the members of the Village People, who bounded onto the stage in their famous costumes to join the incoming president.

    Standing in a line, with Trump in the middle, the band performed their hit YMCA, which was on high rotation during his campaign rallies.

    As the Village People threw their arms in the air during the famous chorus, Trump pumped his fists back and forth, before clapping and mouthing to the crowd "thank you".

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     20 Jan: Palestinians released to cheers as three Israeli hostages return home — as it happened
     20 Jan: Trial of alleged sexual perpetrator without arms prompts focus on disability in Indonesia
     20 Jan: Senior Taliban official urges reversal of education ban on Afghan girls
     20 Jan: What we know about the three Israelis released on the first day of the ceasefire
     20 Jan: Trump says he will repeal 'foolish' orders within hours of taking office — as it happened
     20 Jan: TikTok restoring US service after Donald Trump pledges to delay ban
     20 Jan: Palestinian prisoners and detainees to return home as Israel welcomes first hostages back
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Highlanders have named two new co-captains to lead the side for the upcoming Super Rugby season More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A fresh push for sustainable funding in the pharmacy sector More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A youth has been arrested after an alleged fleeing driver incident in Auckland this evening 21:57

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway 14 at Tangiteroria in Kaipara will be closed for several hours while Police investigate a crash 21:17

    Politics:
    Palestinians released to cheers as three Israeli hostages return home — as it happened 20:27

    Rugby:
    The Highlanders have named two new co-captains to lead the side for the upcoming Super Rugby season 18:57

    Accident and Emergency:
    The Police Dive Squad has recovered the body of a jetskier who'd been missing in Lake Taupo 18:37

    Cricket:
    Martin Guptill and Simon Keene have put on a first wicket partnership of 164 for Auckland away against Wellington in the T20 Super Smash 18:37

    Education:
    Trial of alleged sexual perpetrator without arms prompts focus on disability in Indonesia 18:17

    Law and Order:
    A US woman's faced court accused of trying to smuggle about 11-million-dollars of meth through Auckland International Airport 18:07

    Golf:
    Austrian Sepp Straka has won the latest PGA Tour event in California by two strokes 17:27

    International:
    Senior Taliban official urges reversal of education ban on Afghan girls 17:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd