Donald Trump addressed a crowd of thousands of enthusiastic supporters on Sunday, pledging to enforce strict immigration restrictions on his first day back in office. Speaking at a “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” at the packed Capital One Arena in Washington, he promised swift action to fulfill the core promise of his campaign, just a day before his anticipated return to power.
“By the time the sun sets tomorrow, the invasion of our country will have come to a halt,” Trump declared, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
The former president reiterated his plan to execute the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, targeting millions of undocumented immigrants. Experts note that such a massive operation would likely take years and come at an enormous financial cost.
The rally mirrored Trump’s signature campaign events, combining bold boasts, contentious claims, and sweeping promises. “This is the greatest political movement in American history, and 75 days ago, we achieved the most epic political victory our country has ever seen,” he proclaimed. “Starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed and strength to fix every single crisis facing our country.”
The event also marked Trump’s first major speech in Washington since his January 6, 2021 address, which preceded the Capitol riot. Trump reiterated his commitment to pardoning many of the 1,500 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the attack.
The rally, along with his upcoming inaugural address, hinted at the tone of his second term. In recent weeks, Trump has drawn international scrutiny with remarks about potentially acquiring Greenland, reclaiming the Panama Canal, and annexing Canada as a U.S. state.
He vowed to repeal “every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration” within hours of taking office at noon ET (1700 GMT).
Sources familiar with his plans revealed Trump intends to sign more than 200 executive orders on Monday, focusing heavily on border security. Measures reportedly include designating drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations,” declaring an emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for U.S. court dates.
Trump’s deportation agenda has stirred anxiety among immigrant communities, including long-term residents with U.S.-citizen family members who could face removal.
He also pledged to overhaul the military by eliminating “radical woke ideologies” and announced plans to build a missile defense shield over the U.S., though specific details remain unclear.
Additionally, Trump promised to release classified files on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Due to forecasts of severe cold, officials have moved Monday’s planned outdoor inauguration festivities indoors to the same arena, which also hosts hockey and basketball events.
