Crowds noticeably thinner for Trump compared to Obama’s inaugurations
Before Friday’s inauguration, President Donald Trump predicted “unbelievable, perhaps record-setting turnout.” But the early images from the National Mall and surrounding areas near the Capitol don’t appear to match the crowds at President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009.
The crowds at Obama’s historic first inauguration were an estimated record-setting 1.8 million people. Local officials in Washington, D.C. said earlier this week they estimated crowds at Trump’s swearing ceremonies and parade to be less than half that—about 800,000 people.
Photos of the National Mall on Friday, compared to 2009, appear to support that prediction.
The crowd size comparison, from 2009 and today. pic.twitter.com/iMYZy9PRK8
— Matt Viser (@mviser) January 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/iamjoonlee/status/822480029884018689
Two photos. Two phones. Eight years apart. pic.twitter.com/h9j2AkA4I6
— Clinton Yates (@clintonyates) January 20, 2017
Compared to Obama’s second inauguration in 2013, which was said to have drawn 1 million people, Trump’s crowds still appeared smaller.
10:34 a.m. exactly, 4 years ago and today. pic.twitter.com/HhoTQqIqsS
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 20, 2017
According to the Washington Metro, the district’s public transit agency, ridership was also down significantly on Friday compared to the last two inaugurations.
Metro Ridership: As of 11am, 193k trips taken so far today. (11am 1/20/13 = 317k, 11am 1/20/09 = 513k, 11am 1/20/05 = 197k) #wmata
— Metro Forward (@wmata) January 20, 2017
(The transit agency later corrected the tweet to reflect that Obama was inaugurated on Jan. 21, 2013, not Jan. 20.)
The crowds at Trump’s inaugural concert Thursday also reportedly paled in comparison to that of his predecessor in 2009.
It’s worth noting rainy weather early Friday could have dissuaded some inauguration-goers, and that more than 90 percent of Washington, D.C., voted for Hillary Clinton.
One final statistic: According to The Washington Post, 200 bus parking permits had been sought for Trump’s inauguration Friday. More than 3,000 charter bus permits were registered for Obama’s swearing-in day in 2009.
Snapshots from Inauguration Day:
[bdc-gallery id=”2000344″]
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