Page 2 - aruba-today-20170123

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 23 January 2017
Trump, amid combative start, pledges to rise to moment

JONATHAN LEMIRE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Af-
ter a combative start to his
presidency, Donald Trump
delivered a more unify-
ing message Sunday and
sought to reassure Ameri-
cans he was ready to be-
gin governing a divided
nation.
Trump began rolling out his
plans for diplomatic out-
reach, speaking with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and announc-
ing plans for early meetings
with Netanyahu and other
world leaders. He thanked
top law enforcement of-
ficers for their service and
support.
And he swore-in a group of
aides, telling them he be-
lieved they were ready to
rise to a daunting task.
“But with the faith in each
other and the faith in God,
we will get the job done,”
Trump said in a ceremony
in the White House East President Donald Trump speaks during a White House senior staff swearing in ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Sun-
Room. “We will prove wor- day, Jan. 22, 2017, in Washington.
thy of this moment in his- Associated Press
tory. And I think it may very clared he believed “it Trump’s advisers have set administration. Trump de- pression that we just had
well be a great moment in looked like a million and a Monday up as the presi- scribed that conversation an election! Why didn’t
history.” half people.” dent’s first major day of ac- as “very nice.” White House these people vote? Celebs
Trump’s reassurance came But ridership on the Wash- tion on his sweeping cam- officials said Trump “af- hurt cause badly,” Trump
after a day marked by ington’s Metro system paign promises, but as of firmed his unprecedented tweeted early Sunday
global protests against his didn’t match that of recent Sunday night, it appeared commitment to Israel’s se- morning. Ninety-five min-
presidency and his own inaugurations. as though his team was still curity.” The leaders agree utes later, he struck a more
complaints about media As of 11 a.m. Friday, there making decisions on what to meet at the White House conciliatory tone.
coverage of his inaugu- were 193,000 trips taken, moves to make. Some con- in early February. “Peaceful protests are a
ration, a combination of according to the transpor- gressional Republicans had Trump announced that hallmark of our democ-
events that made for a tation service’s Twitter ac- expected Trump to sign or- he’s set up meetings with racy. Even if I don’t always
contentious first full day in count. ders over the weekend, but the Prime Minister of Can- agree, I recognize the
office on Saturday. At the same hour eight those never materialized. ada, Justin Trudeau, and rights of people to express
But even as the White years ago, there had been Trump campaigned on a Mexican President Enrique their views,” the president
House tried to forge for- 513,000 trips. Four years lat- very specific 18-point plan Peña Nieto. tweeted, still using his per-
ward, the president’s aides er, there were 317,000 for for this first day in office. If he “We’re going to start some sonal account.
continued to defend the Obama’s second inaugu- follows it, he could sign ex- negotiations having to do The dueling tweets marked
president and his press ration. ecutive orders on immigra- with NAFTA,” he said of his administration’s first re-
secretary, both of whom Conway also declared that tion, trade and national se- his meeting with Mexico, sponse to the more than
tore into journalists for ac- Trump will not release his tax curity. Trump has pledged along with immigration 1 million people who ral-
curately reporting that returns now that he’s taken to scuttle trade deals such and security at the bor- lied at women’s marches
his swearing-in ceremony office, breaking a promise as a pending Asia-Pacific der. Trump has promised in Washington and cities
drew a smaller crowd than he made during the cam- agreement and overturn to build a wall along the across the world. Hundreds
President Barack Obama paign. Obama’s executive order length of the southern bor- of protesters lined the
did eight years ago. On As a candidate, he said he deferring deportations for der and insisted that Mexi- street as Trump’s motor-
Sunday, a top adviser said would release his returns 700,000 people who were co will pay for it. cade drove past on Satur-
the Trump administration after an IRS audit was com- brought into the country il- The new president showed day afternoon, with many
was supplying “alternative pleted. Every president legally as children. he was clinging to some screaming and chanting.
facts.” since 1976 has released the He’s due to begin formally of his pre-presidential hab- The Washington rally ap-
“There’s no way to really information, but Conway discussing his agenda Mon- its. He responded to Satur- peared to attract more
quantify crowds. We all said she does not believe day at a meeting with a bi- day’s protests on Twitter, people than attended
know that. You can laugh Americans care whether partisan group of congres- offering a scattershot re- Trump’s inauguration on
at me all you want,” Kelly- Trump follows suit. sional leaders. sponse. In one tweet, he Friday, but there were no
anne Conway told NBC’s “He’s not going to release Trump’s early call to Netan- sarcastically denigrating completely comparable
“Meet The Press.” She his tax returns. We litigated yahu was aimed at signal- the public opposition and numbers. Regional trans-
added: “I think it’s actually this all through the election. ing his support for Israel and then defended demonstra- portation officials tweeted
symbolic of the way we’re People didn’t care,” Con- a new start in a relationship tors’ rights a short time later. on Sunday that 1,001,616
treated by the press.” way said on ABC’s “This that became increasingly “Watched protests yester- trips were taken on the rail
Trump on Saturday de- Week.” fraught during the Obama day but was under the im- system on Saturday. q