Braving freezing temperatures and navigating security barriers, Ray Reynolds fulfilled a lifelong dream by attending the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump on January 20 in the nation’s capital.
(right) poses with Virginia Governor Glenn
Youngkin during an event in Washington,
D.C. (Contributed photos)
“It’s what most people, what every American, lives for,” Reynolds said. “This is once in a lifetime. I mean, Trump will not be president again. This is it—there won’t be another inauguration for Trump. It’s a chance of a lifetime.”
Reynolds, of Bassett, and a fellow GOP supporter from Hillsville, arrived in Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 17, and began the return trip on Tuesday, January 21.
Reynolds secured accommodations just two blocks from the Capitol, anticipating proximity to key events. However, security measures, including fences and road closures, turned simple trips into long walks through a maze-like setup.
“It was like a maze. We had to walk anywhere from 10 to 16 blocks every time we wanted to go to the Convention Center or anywhere downtown,” Reynolds said. “It was for security concerns, and I understand that. I just wasn’t prepared for the cold, the freezing rain, the snow.”
stirring inaugural prayer, is pictured with
Ray Reynolds.
Despite the weather, Reynolds described the atmosphere as electric, with Trump supporters lining up in droves for events.
“Anytime we went to an event, the lines were three to four blocks long, and three blocks wide,” he said. “You’d have never known it was 10 or 15 degrees. Nobody was complaining — people were laughing, having a good time.”
Because the National Guard maintained a presence there, Reynolds said everyone felt safe. He noted the police were also friendly and helpful.
Reynolds was among the 275,000 attendees with tickets for the swearing-in ceremony, which was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to weather concerns and security threats, and to ensure no one suffered from weather-related issues. An inauguration parade was later held in the Capital Center.
“I sat 10 rows from the front of Trump,” he said. “I was on the floor, 10 rows from Trump, and that’s when Fox (News) and them got me on TV.”
Reynolds noted speculation in D.C. that threats against Trump and the forecasted snowstorm influenced the decision to move the event indoors.
his performance of “God Bless the U.S.A.,”
poses with Ray Reynolds.
“They had called for five to eight inches of snow, and the temperature was expected to be zero,” he said. “There were so many elderly people there, they didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Reynolds attended several high-profile events throughout the weekend, including the Moms for America gala, the All-American Inaugural Ball, and the Armed Forces (AF10) Gala, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C.
“The Liberty Ball was the biggest event I attended besides the actual inauguration,” he said. “When Trump and the First Lady (Melania Trump) were dancing, there were at least seven people in wheelchairs in their 80s there watching.”
He also attended the Patriot Awards at the National Press Club, where he met figures such as former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, conservative activist Scott Presler, actor Jon Voight, and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur, politician and Trump’s pick to co-lead the DOGE commission. Ramaswamy decided he would not join DOGE, but reportedly has indicated interest in running for governor of Ohio next year.
President Donald Trump take the oath of office
“When I shook Vivek’s hand, I asked him, ‘Are you going to be the next Governor of Ohio? Are you going to take J.D. Vance’s place?’ He winked at me and smiled real big,” Reynolds said, adding he also rubbed shoulders with many other dignitaries and celebrities.
Reynolds credits his attendance at these exclusive events to his longstanding support for Trump.
“The people in the GOP recognize me as one of them. They know the work I put in for Trump and wanted me to be part of it,” he said. “It’s like a big family. When you’re with Trump and you support him, it’s like you’re family.”
Reynolds described the experience as the “biggest patriot get-together ever seen.”
“I met so many people that used to be Democrats,” he said. “They’d come up to me and say, ‘I used to be a Democrat. I voted for Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Obama twice, and now I’m a Trumpster.’ It was unbelievable the people that would come up and just profess, ‘Trump’s my president.’”
Reflecting on the weekend, Reynolds said, “The experience is something that only happens once in a lifetime. Everything that I experienced was like winning the lottery—it was just unbelievable.”
