President Trump has declared a war far more dangerous to himself than if he had declared war against Russia or China.
President Trump’s brief inaugural speech was a declaration of war against the entirety of the American Ruling Establishment. All of it.
Trump made it abundantly clear that Americans’ enemies are right here at home: globalists, neoliberal economists, neoconservatives and other unilateralists accustomed to imposing the US on the world and involving us in endless and expensive wars, politicians who serve the Ruling Establishment rather than the American people, indeed, the entire canopy of private interests that have run America into the ground while getting rich in the process.
If truth can be said, President Trump has declared a war far more dangerous to himself than if he had declared war against Russia or China.
The interest groups designated by Trump as The Enemy are well entrenched and accustomed to being in charge. Their powerful networks are still in place. Although there are Republican majorities in the House and Senate, most of those in Congress are answerable to the ruling interest groups that provide their campaign funds and not to the American people or to the President. The military/security complex, offshoring corporations, Wall Street and the banks are not going to roll over for Trump. And neither is the presstitute media, which is owned by the interest groups whose power Trump challenges.
Trump made it clear that he stands for every American, black, brown, and white. Little doubt his declaration of inclusiveness will be ignored by the haters on the left who will continue to call him a racist just as the $50 per hour paid protesters are doing as I write.
Indeed, black leadership, for example, is enculturated into the victimization role from which it would be hard for them to escape. How do you pull together people who all their lives have been taught that whites are racists and that they are the victims of racists?
Can it be done? I was just on a program briefly with Press TV in which we were supposed to provide analysis of Trump’s inaugural speech. The other commentator was a black American in Washington, DC. Trump’s inclusiveness speech made no impression on him, and the show host was only interested in showing the hired protesters as a way of discrediting America. So many people have an economic interest in speaking in behalf of victims that inclusiveness puts them out of jobs and causes.
So along with the globalists, the CIA, the offshoring corporations, the armaments industries, the NATO establishment in Europe, and foreign politicians accustomed to being well paid for supporting Washington’s interventionist foreign policy, Trump will have arrayed against him the leaders of the victimized peoples, the blacks, the hispanics, the feminists, the illegals, the homosexuals and transgendered. This long list, of course, includes the white liberals as well, as they are convinced that flyover America is the habitat of white racists, misogynists, homophobes, and gun nuts. As far as they are concerned, this 84% of geographical US should be quarantined or interred.
In other words, does enough good will remain in the population to enable a President to unite the 16% America haters with the 84% America lovers?
Consider the forces that Trump has against him:
Black and hispanic leaders need victimization, because it is what elevates them to power and income. They will turn a jaundiced eye toward Trump’s inclusiveness. Inclusiveness is good for blacks and hispanics, but not for their leaders.
The executives and shareholders of global corporations are enriched by the offshored jobs that Trump says he will bring home. If the jobs come home, their profits, performance bonuses, and capital gains will go away. But the economic security of the American population will return.
The military/security complex has a 1,000 billion annual budget dependent on “the Russian threat” that Trump says he is going to replace with normalized relations. Trump’s assassination cannot be ruled out.
Many Europeans owe their prestige, power, and incomes to the NATO that Trump has called into question.
The financial sector’s profits almost entirely flow from putting Americans into debt bondage and from looting their private and public pensions. The financial sector with their agent, the Federal Reserve, can overwhelm Trump with financial crisis. The New York Federal Reserve Bank has a complete trading desk. It can send any market into turmoil. Or support any market, because there is no limit on its ability to create US dollars.
The entire political ediface in the US has insulated itself from the will, desires, and needs of the people. Now Trump says the politicians will be accountable to the people. This, of course, would mean a big drop in their security in office and in their income and wealth.
There are a large number of groups, funded by we-know-not-who. For example, RootsAction has responded today to Trump’s forceful commitment to stand for all of the people against the Ruling Establishment with a request to “ask Congress to direct the House Judiciary Committee to open an impeachment investigation” and to send money for Trump’s impeachment.
Another hate group, human rights first, attacks Trump’s defense of our borders as closing “a refuge of hope for those fleeing persecution.” Think about this for a minute. According to the liberal-progressive-left and the racial interest group organizations, the US is a racist society and President Trump is a racist. Yet, people subject to American racism are fleeing from persecution to America where they will be racially persecuted? It doesn’t make sense. The illegals come here for work. Ask the construction companies. Ask the chicken and animal slaughter houses. Ask the vacation area cleaning services.
This list of those on whom Trump has declared war is long enough, although there are more that can be added.
We should ask ourselves why a 70 year old billionaire with flourishing businesses, a beautiful wife, and intelligent children is willing to give his final years to the extraordinary stress of being President with the stressful agenda of putting the government back in the hands of the American people. There is no doubt that Trump has made himself a target of assassination. The CIA is not going to give up and go away. Why would a person take on the grand restoration of America that Trump has declared when he could instead spend his remaining years enjoying himself immensely?
Whatever the reason, we should be grateful for it, and if he is sincere we must support him. If he is assassinated, we need to take up our weapons, burn Langley to the ground and kill every one of them.
If he succeeds, he deserves the designation: Trump the Great!
Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and any other country on the CIA’s hit list should undersand that Trump’s rise is insufficient protection. The CIA is a worldwide organization. Its profitable businesses provide income independent of the US budget. The organization is capable of undertaking operations independently of the President or even of its own Director.
The CIA has had about 70 years to entrench itself. It has not gone away.
Donald Trump prays for his presidency: New president and his family ask for divine aid on his first full day in office
- President Trump and the First Lady attend prayer service at Washington National Cathedral
- Multifaith prayers include Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu invocations asking for aid for new president
- The president's daughter Ivanka walked in with her daughter
President Donald Trump is attending a national prayer service this morning with his family and Vice President Mike Pence.
The first and second families arrived at the Washington National Cathedral at 10:30 am to take part in the post-inauguration tradition.
It was the second time in two days that the Trumps and Pences had worshiped together.
Praying for the presidency: Donald Trump and Melania Trump are in the front row at Washington National Cathedral as an interfaith service of prayer rounds off his inauguration
Welcome: The congregation stood as President Trump and the First Lady walked down the aisle
Last to arrive: The President and the First Lady walked in hand in hand for the service
Picture time: Members of the congregation took photographs as President Trump and the First Lady walked down the aisle
Everyone wants a picture: A member of the cathedral's clergy was among those taking photographs of the First Couple as they arrived for the service
First daughter: Ivanka Trump was hand in hand with her daughter Arabella, her eldest child with Jared Kushner, who is a senior adviser to his father-in-law. Security equipment was stowed under the seats they were passing
Glancing round: Ivanka cast a look back at her husband Jared Kushner as he brought sons Joseph and Theodore down the aisle
All hands: Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump's husband and senior adviser to the president, held the couple's younger son Theodore in his arms and Joseph by the hand
First family arrives: Vanessa Trump walked in with her eldest daughter Kai, followed by her husband Donald Trump Jr, then Ross Mechanic, boyfriend of Tiffany Trump. Behind them came Lara Trump and her husband Eric, the president's second son
On their way to their seats: Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr brought their eldest daughter Kai, while Tiffany Trump was accompanied by her boyfriend Ross Mechanic
Stand for opening: Donald Trump, his wife Melania, and Vice-President Mike Pence and his wife Karen stood in the front row awaiting the opening hymn
Ready for prayer: The First Family and the Vice President and his wife stood waiting for the interfaith clergy to process down the aisle
Serious business: The First Lady wore a black belted coat for the service and walked in hand-in-hand with the President
On his way: The President and First Lady walked through the nave of the cathedral towards their seats
Family prayers: Ivanka Trump arrived holding her daughter Arabella by the hand, while her husband Jared Kushner carried their younger son Theodore in his arms and held Joseph's hand
Ready for prayer: Ivanka Trump took Arabella to their seat on the opposite side of the cathedral for the service from the president and first lady's seats while Joseph seemed to need some persuasion not to head towards the other side
They began their first day in office with a church service, too, at St. John's, near the White House and the presidential guest house Trump spent his final night as president-elect in.
The national prayer service is an inauguration tradition that dates back to George Washington. Barack Obama's national prayer services were held at the Washington National Cathedral after is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. It's mission statement declares its dedication to 'serving the country and its many faith traditions.'
Trump's inaugural committee said today's 'interfaith ceremony will be in keeping with the uniting and uplifting inaugural events, demonstrating President-elect Trump's commitment to be president for all Americans.'
Don Jr., his wife in a maroon coat, Jared Kushner and wife Ivanka, clad in a cranberry coat, entered first, taking their seats in the second row, the Kushner's on the right and the Trumps on the left. Tiffany Trump was seated in the third row on the left, as well, wearing a baby blue coat with white trim.
The Pences came in next, Karen Pence in a black outfit with a large, light pink collar, and the vice president in a black suit and maroon striped tie, taking their seats in the front row.
Patriotism: The President led the congregation is standing to attention and singing the National Anthem
Star-spangled banner: President Trump glances to his right as the congregation sing the National Anthem
Ceremony: President Trump and his first lady turned as the procession of clergy, led by the National Cathedral Choir, passed them
Fist bump: The President greeted Baptist Rev. Ramiro Peña, a Hispanic Texas faith leader who supported his White House run, unconventionally - and Melania Trump was clearly delighted to see him too
Multi-faith: Archbishop Donald Wuerl, the Catholic cardinal-archbishop of Washington D.C. passes the president
Welcome: President Trump smiled at the interfaith clergy walking past him and the First Lady in procession, including Imam Mohamed Magid
Greeting: THe president and first lady smiled warmly at Jesse Singh, of the Sikh Associations of Baltimore
Thumbs up: The president turned to give his trademark gesture at the beginning of the service. Donald Trump Jr, his wife Vanessa and eldest daughter Kai were behind the president, while Michael Pence and his fiancée Sarah Whiteside, the son of Vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen, who is an officer in the Marine Corps, was behind his parents
Misty scene: Security was tight around National Cathedral in Washington before the Trumps arrived
President Trump also wore a black suit to the prayer service, as did First Lady Melania Trump. His tie was dark blue with small white stripes. Melania wore a belted black coat and her brunette hair down, after an up-do at Friday's inauguration.
The president had a smile on his face as took his place in the front row beside his vice president. His expression became solemn soon after but returned to a smile as the congregation sang My Country, 'Tis of Thee at the beginning of the service.
Attendee: Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was there
After a welcome to the service, attendees, including Trump, sang the Star Spangled Banner, before the service moved on.
After a rendition of 'How Great Thou Art' Trump led attendees, sitting at the time, in a standing ovation.
In keeping with theme of inclusivity, Muslim religious leaders were also invited to speak at the service.
Todd Christopherson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Mormon church delivered a prayer on behalf of the new president.
'Oh Lord God, our heavenly father, whose glory is in all the world. we commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guarded by thy providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace.
'Grant to President Donald John Trump, president of the United States, and to all in your authority thy grace and favored, give them wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will,' he said.
'Imbue with thy heavenly gifts, fill them with the love and truth of righteousness, and make them every mindful of their calling to serve this people, in thy fear through Jesus Christ our lord who lives and reigns with thee, one god, world without end.'
Sajid Tar, American Muslims for Trump founder, said a prayer for Trump, as well.
Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Sara Armstrong said in a statement, 'It is fitting that President-elect will begin his inauguration week with a salute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and end the week in prayerful reflection at the National Prayer Service.
President Trump 'is humbled to pause and join with leaders from many different faith traditions represented in our country to ask His blessings for peace and prosperity for our country,' Armstrong said.
The Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, is giving the welcome remarks and benediction.
Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C. will say a prayer for the nation at the end of the ceremony.
Rev. Darrell Scott, a vice chair of Trump's transition and the head of his National Diversity Coalition, will dismiss prayer service participants.
Dr. Alveda King, a niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, is among the religious leaders attending.
Family time: Vanessa Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, led his eldest granddaughter Kai at the front of the First Family as they arrived. Her husband, Donald Trump Jr was directly behind, followed by the president's younger daughter Tiffany, with her boyfriend Ross Mechanic, and behind them Lara Trump, and her husband Eric, the president's second son
Tender moment: Ross Mechanic reached over to whisper in the ear of Tiffany Trump. The president's eldest son, Donald Jr, sat behind him, with his wife Vanessa and eldest daughter Kai to his right. The president has eight grandchildren
Moment of contemplation: The president pauses during the ceremony
Arrivals: Vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen arrived shortly before the President and the First Lady for the service
Chief aides: Among those in the congregation were (from left) senior counselor to the president Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, his National Security Adviser, and Reince Preibus, his chief of staff
Awesome setting: The prayer service took place in Washington National Cathedral
Precautions: Snipers on the rooftop of the National Cathedral as the service proceeded
United in prayer: The prayer service brought together faiths including Christianity and Hinduism. Those pictured from left are: Bishop Harry Jackson, Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Md., Priest Narayanachar L. Dialakote, Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Multi-faith service: Among the religions and denominations represented were Muslims, Sikhs, Episcopal, Baptist and Catholic Christians. From left left, Anthony Vance, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States; Ian McIlraith, Soka Gakkai International ; Jesse Singh of the Sikh Associations of Baltimore
Greeting: The president gave his signature thumbs-up to clergy and choristers processing past him and the first lady
Procession: Members of the First Family and Vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen
Salute the flag: An altar server carries the stars and stripes from the altar of the cathedral
Thanks: Melania Trump shakes hands with Alveda King, niece of the murdered Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr, while the President greeted Priest Narayanachar L. Dialakote
Thanks: The President shakes hands with Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Catholic archbishop of Washington D.C. as clergy process from the altar
Appreciation: The president thanks Randall Marshall Hollerith, Dean of the National Cathedral
Reaching out: The president gestures towards members of the clergy as they process from the altar
Greeting: The President shakes hands with Bishop Harry Jackson, Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Md
Thank you: Imam Mohamed Magid is thanked by the president as he walks in process from the cathedral
Thanks: Rabbi Fred Raskind is greeted by the president as clergy process from the alter of National Cathedral in D.C.
Faith leader: President Trump spoke to Jesse Singh, of the Sikh Associations of Baltimore, at the conclusion of the service
United in prayer: The prayer service brought together faiths including Christianity and Hinduism. Vice-president Mike Pence shakes hands with Bishop Harry Jackson, of Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Md., while Priest Narayanachar L. Dialakote watches as the first lady shakes hands with Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the president greets another leader.
Pleased to see you: Baptist Rev. Ramiro Peña, a Hispanic Texas faith got a special greeting from the president
Helping hand: The President was handed an order of service by his vice-president, Mike Pence
Moment of contemplation: The president glances up as the congregation stand towards the end of the service
Processing out: Servers lead the clergy from the altar of National Cathedral at the end of the service
Saturday's multi-faith church worship service followed a history-making day when Americans witnessed the world's calmest transition of political might in Planet Earth's most powerful city.
Less than an hour after delivering a 16-minute inaugural address, Trump went to work.
He signed a series of orders inside the U.S. Capitol, formally nominating the members of his cabinet.
And he rolled back an 11th-hour Obama administration rule that lowered home borrowers' mortgage insurance costs.
The Federal Housing Authority uses that money to underwrite banks when low-income – and therefore high-risk – borrowers default on their loans.
Republicans argue that unless the FHA has significant cash reserves, all taxpayers including those with no stake in the housing market would be forced to pay for bailouts.
This happened in 2013, when the FHA required a $1.7 billion taxpayer cash infusion to keep going.
Back at the White House before a string of three inaugural balls, the new president inked formal commissions for a pair of retired Marine Corps general whom the U.S. Senate confirmed in their new cabinet roles.
Vice President Mike Pence swore them both in immediately.
Retired Gen. James Mattis is now the U.S. secretary of Defense. Retired Gen. John Kelly is secretary of Homeland Security.
Just as consequential were a pair of orders marking the Trump administration's first firepower volley against Obamacare and signaling a massive, government-wide regulatory freeze.
The Obamacare executive order directs government departments and administrators to limit the cost of complying with the Affordable Care Act in every way possible, while preparing for a Republican-dominated Congress to repeal and replace the law.
The regulatory memo, in the form of a memorandum from White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, orders federal agencies to cancel new regulations that haven't yet been officially published, and to delay for 60 days all those that are in place but haven't yet taken effect.
It also orders bureaucrats to stop submitting most new regulations without first seeking White House approval.
Trump pledged during his campaign that he would pare back the American regulatory state in order to liberate the financial, energy and manufacturing sectors.
He also vowed to eliminate two federal regulations for every new one that takes effect.
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ORDER OF SERVICE RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE
At the National Prayer Service The Rt Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington, will give the welcome and benediction, The Rt Rev. James B. Magness, Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries of the Episcopal Church, will lead a call and response and give the blessing at the end of the service.
Very Rev. Randall Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, will also lead a call and response.
Calls to prayer will be offered by Rev. Canon Rosemarie Duncan, Cantor Mikhail Manevich, and Imam Mohamed Magid.
Prayers for those who govern will be offered by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Priest Narayanachar L. Digalakote, Bishop Harry Jackson, and Mr. Carlyle Begay.
Prayers for those who serve will be offered by Dr. Jack Graham and Pastor Greg Laurie. Prayers for service of others will be offered by His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America.
Prayers for the people will be offered by Mr. Jesse Singh, Mr. Ian McIlraith, and Mr. Anthony Vance.
Prayers for Peace will be offered by Mrs. Cissie Graham Lynch.
The Lord's Prayer will be led by Rev. Ramiro Peña.
Readings will be offered by Dr. David Swanson, Dr. David Jeremiah, Rev. Ronnie Floyd, Rabbi Fred Raskind, and Mr. Sajid Tarar.
The service will conclude with a prayer for the nation delivered by His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. and a dismissal by Rev. Darrell Scott.
Contrast: While the congregation was praying for the president and the nation, protesters were outside
In the front row: The president and vice-presidents and their wives were in the front row of the nave, while in the transept to the right, faith leaders were positioned. The president greeted them as he left
Departure: the president left followed by the first lady, and then behind him the vice-president, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared, Donald Jr and his wife Vanessa, and walked past members of the clergy and into the congregation
Trump made it abundantly clear that Americans’ enemies are right here at home: globalists, neoliberal economists, neoconservatives and other unilateralists accustomed to imposing the US on the world and involving us in endless and expensive wars, politicians who serve the Ruling Establishment rather than the American people, indeed, the entire canopy of private interests that have run America into the ground while getting rich in the process.
If truth can be said, President Trump has declared a war far more dangerous to himself than if he had declared war against Russia or China.
The interest groups designated by Trump as The Enemy are well entrenched and accustomed to being in charge. Their powerful networks are still in place. Although there are Republican majorities in the House and Senate, most of those in Congress are answerable to the ruling interest groups that provide their campaign funds and not to the American people or to the President. The military/security complex, offshoring corporations, Wall Street and the banks are not going to roll over for Trump. And neither is the presstitute media, which is owned by the interest groups whose power Trump challenges.
Trump made it clear that he stands for every American, black, brown, and white. Little doubt his declaration of inclusiveness will be ignored by the haters on the left who will continue to call him a racist just as the $50 per hour paid protesters are doing as I write.
Indeed, black leadership, for example, is enculturated into the victimization role from which it would be hard for them to escape. How do you pull together people who all their lives have been taught that whites are racists and that they are the victims of racists?
Can it be done? I was just on a program briefly with Press TV in which we were supposed to provide analysis of Trump’s inaugural speech. The other commentator was a black American in Washington, DC. Trump’s inclusiveness speech made no impression on him, and the show host was only interested in showing the hired protesters as a way of discrediting America. So many people have an economic interest in speaking in behalf of victims that inclusiveness puts them out of jobs and causes.
So along with the globalists, the CIA, the offshoring corporations, the armaments industries, the NATO establishment in Europe, and foreign politicians accustomed to being well paid for supporting Washington’s interventionist foreign policy, Trump will have arrayed against him the leaders of the victimized peoples, the blacks, the hispanics, the feminists, the illegals, the homosexuals and transgendered. This long list, of course, includes the white liberals as well, as they are convinced that flyover America is the habitat of white racists, misogynists, homophobes, and gun nuts. As far as they are concerned, this 84% of geographical US should be quarantined or interred.
In other words, does enough good will remain in the population to enable a President to unite the 16% America haters with the 84% America lovers?
Consider the forces that Trump has against him:
Black and hispanic leaders need victimization, because it is what elevates them to power and income. They will turn a jaundiced eye toward Trump’s inclusiveness. Inclusiveness is good for blacks and hispanics, but not for their leaders.
The executives and shareholders of global corporations are enriched by the offshored jobs that Trump says he will bring home. If the jobs come home, their profits, performance bonuses, and capital gains will go away. But the economic security of the American population will return.
The military/security complex has a 1,000 billion annual budget dependent on “the Russian threat” that Trump says he is going to replace with normalized relations. Trump’s assassination cannot be ruled out.
Many Europeans owe their prestige, power, and incomes to the NATO that Trump has called into question.
The financial sector’s profits almost entirely flow from putting Americans into debt bondage and from looting their private and public pensions. The financial sector with their agent, the Federal Reserve, can overwhelm Trump with financial crisis. The New York Federal Reserve Bank has a complete trading desk. It can send any market into turmoil. Or support any market, because there is no limit on its ability to create US dollars.
The entire political ediface in the US has insulated itself from the will, desires, and needs of the people. Now Trump says the politicians will be accountable to the people. This, of course, would mean a big drop in their security in office and in their income and wealth.
There are a large number of groups, funded by we-know-not-who. For example, RootsAction has responded today to Trump’s forceful commitment to stand for all of the people against the Ruling Establishment with a request to “ask Congress to direct the House Judiciary Committee to open an impeachment investigation” and to send money for Trump’s impeachment.
Another hate group, human rights first, attacks Trump’s defense of our borders as closing “a refuge of hope for those fleeing persecution.” Think about this for a minute. According to the liberal-progressive-left and the racial interest group organizations, the US is a racist society and President Trump is a racist. Yet, people subject to American racism are fleeing from persecution to America where they will be racially persecuted? It doesn’t make sense. The illegals come here for work. Ask the construction companies. Ask the chicken and animal slaughter houses. Ask the vacation area cleaning services.
This list of those on whom Trump has declared war is long enough, although there are more that can be added.
We should ask ourselves why a 70 year old billionaire with flourishing businesses, a beautiful wife, and intelligent children is willing to give his final years to the extraordinary stress of being President with the stressful agenda of putting the government back in the hands of the American people. There is no doubt that Trump has made himself a target of assassination. The CIA is not going to give up and go away. Why would a person take on the grand restoration of America that Trump has declared when he could instead spend his remaining years enjoying himself immensely?
Whatever the reason, we should be grateful for it, and if he is sincere we must support him. If he is assassinated, we need to take up our weapons, burn Langley to the ground and kill every one of them.
If he succeeds, he deserves the designation: Trump the Great!
Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and any other country on the CIA’s hit list should undersand that Trump’s rise is insufficient protection. The CIA is a worldwide organization. Its profitable businesses provide income independent of the US budget. The organization is capable of undertaking operations independently of the President or even of its own Director.
The CIA has had about 70 years to entrench itself. It has not gone away.
Donald Trump prays for his presidency: New president and his family ask for divine aid on his first full day in office
- President Trump and the First Lady attend prayer service at Washington National Cathedral
- Multifaith prayers include Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu invocations asking for aid for new president
- The president's daughter Ivanka walked in with her daughter
President Donald Trump is attending a national prayer service this morning with his family and Vice President Mike Pence.
The first and second families arrived at the Washington National Cathedral at 10:30 am to take part in the post-inauguration tradition.
It was the second time in two days that the Trumps and Pences had worshiped together.
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Praying for the presidency: Donald Trump and Melania Trump are in the front row at Washington National Cathedral as an interfaith service of prayer rounds off his inauguration
Welcome: The congregation stood as President Trump and the First Lady walked down the aisle
Last to arrive: The President and the First Lady walked in hand in hand for the service
Picture time: Members of the congregation took photographs as President Trump and the First Lady walked down the aisle
Everyone wants a picture: A member of the cathedral's clergy was among those taking photographs of the First Couple as they arrived for the service
First daughter: Ivanka Trump was hand in hand with her daughter Arabella, her eldest child with Jared Kushner, who is a senior adviser to his father-in-law. Security equipment was stowed under the seats they were passing
Glancing round: Ivanka cast a look back at her husband Jared Kushner as he brought sons Joseph and Theodore down the aisle
All hands: Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump's husband and senior adviser to the president, held the couple's younger son Theodore in his arms and Joseph by the hand
First family arrives: Vanessa Trump walked in with her eldest daughter Kai, followed by her husband Donald Trump Jr, then Ross Mechanic, boyfriend of Tiffany Trump. Behind them came Lara Trump and her husband Eric, the president's second son
On their way to their seats: Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr brought their eldest daughter Kai, while Tiffany Trump was accompanied by her boyfriend Ross Mechanic
Stand for opening: Donald Trump, his wife Melania, and Vice-President Mike Pence and his wife Karen stood in the front row awaiting the opening hymn
Ready for prayer: The First Family and the Vice President and his wife stood waiting for the interfaith clergy to process down the aisle
Serious business: The First Lady wore a black belted coat for the service and walked in hand-in-hand with the President
On his way: The President and First Lady walked through the nave of the cathedral towards their seats
Family prayers: Ivanka Trump arrived holding her daughter Arabella by the hand, while her husband Jared Kushner carried their younger son Theodore in his arms and held Joseph's hand
Ready for prayer: Ivanka Trump took Arabella to their seat on the opposite side of the cathedral for the service from the president and first lady's seats while Joseph seemed to need some persuasion not to head towards the other side
They began their first day in office with a church service, too, at St. John's, near the White House and the presidential guest house Trump spent his final night as president-elect in.
The national prayer service is an inauguration tradition that dates back to George Washington. Barack Obama's national prayer services were held at the Washington National Cathedral after is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. It's mission statement declares its dedication to 'serving the country and its many faith traditions.'
Trump's inaugural committee said today's 'interfaith ceremony will be in keeping with the uniting and uplifting inaugural events, demonstrating President-elect Trump's commitment to be president for all Americans.'
Don Jr., his wife in a maroon coat, Jared Kushner and wife Ivanka, clad in a cranberry coat, entered first, taking their seats in the second row, the Kushner's on the right and the Trumps on the left. Tiffany Trump was seated in the third row on the left, as well, wearing a baby blue coat with white trim.
The Pences came in next, Karen Pence in a black outfit with a large, light pink collar, and the vice president in a black suit and maroon striped tie, taking their seats in the front row.
Patriotism: The President led the congregation is standing to attention and singing the National Anthem
Star-spangled banner: President Trump glances to his right as the congregation sing the National Anthem
Ceremony: President Trump and his first lady turned as the procession of clergy, led by the National Cathedral Choir, passed them
Fist bump: The President greeted Baptist Rev. Ramiro Peña, a Hispanic Texas faith leader who supported his White House run, unconventionally - and Melania Trump was clearly delighted to see him too
Multi-faith: Archbishop Donald Wuerl, the Catholic cardinal-archbishop of Washington D.C. passes the president
Welcome: President Trump smiled at the interfaith clergy walking past him and the First Lady in procession, including Imam Mohamed Magid
Greeting: THe president and first lady smiled warmly at Jesse Singh, of the Sikh Associations of Baltimore
Thumbs up: The president turned to give his trademark gesture at the beginning of the service. Donald Trump Jr, his wife Vanessa and eldest daughter Kai were behind the president, while Michael Pence and his fiancée Sarah Whiteside, the son of Vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen, who is an officer in the Marine Corps, was behind his parents
Misty scene: Security was tight around National Cathedral in Washington before the Trumps arrived
President Trump also wore a black suit to the prayer service, as did First Lady Melania Trump. His tie was dark blue with small white stripes. Melania wore a belted black coat and her brunette hair down, after an up-do at Friday's inauguration.
The president had a smile on his face as took his place in the front row beside his vice president. His expression became solemn soon after but returned to a smile as the congregation sang My Country, 'Tis of Thee at the beginning of the service.
Attendee: Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was there
After a welcome to the service, attendees, including Trump, sang the Star Spangled Banner, before the service moved on.
After a rendition of 'How Great Thou Art' Trump led attendees, sitting at the time, in a standing ovation.
In keeping with theme of inclusivity, Muslim religious leaders were also invited to speak at the service.
Todd Christopherson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Mormon church delivered a prayer on behalf of the new president.
'Oh Lord God, our heavenly father, whose glory is in all the world. we commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guarded by thy providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace.
'Grant to President Donald John Trump, president of the United States, and to all in your authority thy grace and favored, give them wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will,' he said.
'Imbue with thy heavenly gifts, fill them with the love and truth of righteousness, and make them every mindful of their calling to serve this people, in thy fear through Jesus Christ our lord who lives and reigns with thee, one god, world without end.'
Sajid Tar, American Muslims for Trump founder, said a prayer for Trump, as well.
Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Sara Armstrong said in a statement, 'It is fitting that President-elect will begin his inauguration week with a salute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and end the week in prayerful reflection at the National Prayer Service.
President Trump 'is humbled to pause and join with leaders from many different faith traditions represented in our country to ask His blessings for peace and prosperity for our country,' Armstrong said.
The Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, is giving the welcome remarks and benediction.
Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C. will say a prayer for the nation at the end of the ceremony.
Rev. Darrell Scott, a vice chair of Trump's transition and the head of his National Diversity Coalition, will dismiss prayer service participants.
Dr. Alveda King, a niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, is among the religious leaders attending.
Family time: Vanessa Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, led his eldest granddaughter Kai at the front of the First Family as they arrived. Her husband, Donald Trump Jr was directly behind, followed by the president's younger daughter Tiffany, with her boyfriend Ross Mechanic, and behind them Lara Trump, and her husband Eric, the president's second son
Tender moment: Ross Mechanic reached over to whisper in the ear of Tiffany Trump. The president's eldest son, Donald Jr, sat behind him, with his wife Vanessa and eldest daughter Kai to his right. The president has eight grandchildren
Moment of contemplation: The president pauses during the ceremony
Arrivals: Vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen arrived shortly before the President and the First Lady for the service
Chief aides: Among those in the congregation were (from left) senior counselor to the president Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, his National Security Adviser, and Reince Preibus, his chief of staff
Awesome setting: The prayer service took place in Washington National Cathedral
Precautions: Snipers on the rooftop of the National Cathedral as the service proceeded
United in prayer: The prayer service brought together faiths including Christianity and Hinduism. Those pictured from left are: Bishop Harry Jackson, Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Md., Priest Narayanachar L. Dialakote, Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Multi-faith service: Among the religions and denominations represented were Muslims, Sikhs, Episcopal, Baptist and Catholic Christians. From left left, Anthony Vance, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States; Ian McIlraith, Soka Gakkai International ; Jesse Singh of the Sikh Associations of Baltimore
Greeting: The president gave his signature thumbs-up to clergy and choristers processing past him and the first lady
Procession: Members of the First Family and Vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen
Salute the flag: An altar server carries the stars and stripes from the altar of the cathedral
Thanks: Melania Trump shakes hands with Alveda King, niece of the murdered Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr, while the President greeted Priest Narayanachar L. Dialakote
Thanks: The President shakes hands with Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Catholic archbishop of Washington D.C. as clergy process from the altar
Appreciation: The president thanks Randall Marshall Hollerith, Dean of the National Cathedral
Reaching out: The president gestures towards members of the clergy as they process from the altar
Greeting: The President shakes hands with Bishop Harry Jackson, Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Md
Thank you: Imam Mohamed Magid is thanked by the president as he walks in process from the cathedral
Thanks: Rabbi Fred Raskind is greeted by the president as clergy process from the alter of National Cathedral in D.C.
Faith leader: President Trump spoke to Jesse Singh, of the Sikh Associations of Baltimore, at the conclusion of the service
United in prayer: The prayer service brought together faiths including Christianity and Hinduism. Vice-president Mike Pence shakes hands with Bishop Harry Jackson, of Hope Christian Church, Beltsville, Md., while Priest Narayanachar L. Dialakote watches as the first lady shakes hands with Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the president greets another leader.
Pleased to see you: Baptist Rev. Ramiro Peña, a Hispanic Texas faith got a special greeting from the president
Helping hand: The President was handed an order of service by his vice-president, Mike Pence
Moment of contemplation: The president glances up as the congregation stand towards the end of the service
Processing out: Servers lead the clergy from the altar of National Cathedral at the end of the service
Saturday's multi-faith church worship service followed a history-making day when Americans witnessed the world's calmest transition of political might in Planet Earth's most powerful city.
Less than an hour after delivering a 16-minute inaugural address, Trump went to work.
He signed a series of orders inside the U.S. Capitol, formally nominating the members of his cabinet.
The Federal Housing Authority uses that money to underwrite banks when low-income – and therefore high-risk – borrowers default on their loans.
Republicans argue that unless the FHA has significant cash reserves, all taxpayers including those with no stake in the housing market would be forced to pay for bailouts.
This happened in 2013, when the FHA required a $1.7 billion taxpayer cash infusion to keep going.
Back at the White House before a string of three inaugural balls, the new president inked formal commissions for a pair of retired Marine Corps general whom the U.S. Senate confirmed in their new cabinet roles.
Vice President Mike Pence swore them both in immediately.
Retired Gen. James Mattis is now the U.S. secretary of Defense. Retired Gen. John Kelly is secretary of Homeland Security.
Just as consequential were a pair of orders marking the Trump administration's first firepower volley against Obamacare and signaling a massive, government-wide regulatory freeze.
The Obamacare executive order directs government departments and administrators to limit the cost of complying with the Affordable Care Act in every way possible, while preparing for a Republican-dominated Congress to repeal and replace the law.
The regulatory memo, in the form of a memorandum from White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, orders federal agencies to cancel new regulations that haven't yet been officially published, and to delay for 60 days all those that are in place but haven't yet taken effect.
It also orders bureaucrats to stop submitting most new regulations without first seeking White House approval.
Trump pledged during his campaign that he would pare back the American regulatory state in order to liberate the financial, energy and manufacturing sectors.
He also vowed to eliminate two federal regulations for every new one that takes effect.
ORDER OF SERVICE RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE
At the National Prayer Service The Rt Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington, will give the welcome and benediction, The Rt Rev. James B. Magness, Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries of the Episcopal Church, will lead a call and response and give the blessing at the end of the service.
Very Rev. Randall Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, will also lead a call and response. Calls to prayer will be offered by Rev. Canon Rosemarie Duncan, Cantor Mikhail Manevich, and Imam Mohamed Magid.
Prayers for those who govern will be offered by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Priest Narayanachar L. Digalakote, Bishop Harry Jackson, and Mr. Carlyle Begay.
Prayers for those who serve will be offered by Dr. Jack Graham and Pastor Greg Laurie. Prayers for service of others will be offered by His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America.
Prayers for the people will be offered by Mr. Jesse Singh, Mr. Ian McIlraith, and Mr. Anthony Vance.
Prayers for Peace will be offered by Mrs. Cissie Graham Lynch.
The Lord's Prayer will be led by Rev. Ramiro Peña.
Readings will be offered by Dr. David Swanson, Dr. David Jeremiah, Rev. Ronnie Floyd, Rabbi Fred Raskind, and Mr. Sajid Tarar.
The service will conclude with a prayer for the nation delivered by His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. and a dismissal by Rev. Darrell Scott.
Contrast: While the congregation was praying for the president and the nation, protesters were outside
In the front row: The president and vice-presidents and their wives were in the front row of the nave, while in the transept to the right, faith leaders were positioned. The president greeted them as he left
Departure: the president left followed by the first lady, and then behind him the vice-president, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared, Donald Jr and his wife Vanessa, and walked past members of the clergy and into the congregation
At the rhetorical level, Trump’s speech did sound like he was declaring a JFK-style war against the special interests. But will Trump follow JFK’s footsteps and:
–
*print Constitutional currency, dooming the Fed and the banksters who own it;
*crack down on organized crime;
*try to put an end to nuclear weapons (with a special emphasis on making sure Israel doesn’t have any);
*force the big industrialists to serve the interests of the US and its working class (in JFK’s case by reining in the steel barons, in Trump’s by fully repatriating industrial production);
*end the oil depletion allowance;
* “splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it into the winds”;
*end America’s idiotic wars (Vietnam for JFK, Afghanistan and the Middle East for Trump);
*end the “civilizational war” behind them (the war on Communism in JFK’s time, the war on Islam and Israel’s enemies disguised as a “war on terror” today).
Trump may talk a good game, but talk is cheap. Is he really going to take action? How can a mob front man crack down on organized crime including the banksters? How can Trump end nuclear weapons by massively accelerating the construction of new-generation nuclear weapons, as he has promised?
How can a billionaire capitalist free-trade-lover end the “free trade” era and re-industrialize America? How can a crazed Islamophobe and lover of Israel, surrounded by the most bellicose Zionists, end the war on Islam and Israel’s enemies?
And does Trump really have enough muscle behind him to “splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the winds”?
Unless I miss my guess, Trump is no JFK. I would love to be proven wrong. (Not by an assassination, of course, but by Trump finishing what JFK started.) How about Cohen’s claim that Trump is another LBJ?
The interesting thing about Cohen’s piece is that, unlike most of what you are likely to read in the Washington Post, it hints at LBJ’s complicity in the JFK assassination, citing,
A hoax in 1967 by Paul Krassner in the counterculture magazine the Realist. Tongue in cheek, it reported that Johnson had climbed into Kennedy’s casket and there done unspeakable things. The story was abominable, tasteless and deserved any other insult you could throw at it, but some people believed it. I know. I heard it.
LBJ to his mistress, 11/21/63
The “unspeakable things” involved a disgusting act that would have had the effect of making a bullet entry wound larger and thus resembling an exit wound. And in fact, Lyndon Baines Johnson did preside over a government that mutilated JFK’s body in order to turn entry wounds into apparent exit wounds, as fully documented in David Lifton’s Best Evidence.
Krassner’s satirical piece barely exaggerated LBJ’s psychopathology — necrophilia on his own murder victim would have been very much in character — and did not in the least distort the truth about Johnson’s disgusting complicity in the murder of President Kennedy.
Cohen presumably knows all this. So when he compares the “awful truth” about LBJ to the “awful truth” about Trump, referencing the leaked report about Trump’s perverted behavior in a Moscow hotel, he is telling us that he finds it plausible: “(LBJ) was deemed capable of anything — of lying and perversion of all kinds. This is where Trump stands now.”
Like LBJ, Cohen tells us, Trump is a malignant narcissist, a sociopath, and the American people have for the most part already figured this out. Character is destiny, Cohen says, and Trump’s destiny is to go down in flames.
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