Global Reaction to Trump’s Inauguration Friday 20th January was the date when President Trump became inaugurated and entered into his office: the highest position in America, and, some might argue, the most powerful position in the world. The Capitol Building was filled with important guests, such as President Obama and Michelle Obama, his former rival, Hillary Clinton. The inauguration was watched all over the world and was one of the main conversation topics for many radio shows.

But what has been highlighted afterwards was the crowd of spectators on the Capitol Hill. According to CNN News the size of the crowd was roughly half of the crowd at Obama’s first inauguration. Newspapers such as the “Business Insider” have claimed that more people had joined the Women’s March than had watched the inauguration ceremony. This is clearly indicative of the anger that many people have towards President Donald J Trump.

On the following day, a Women’s March rally took place in Washington DC, where an estimated 500,000 people turned up. They protested for many things, such as abortion rights (which President Trump doesn’t believe in) to a broader matter of women’s rights. Women’s March protests took place all around the world; a crowd of approximately 10,000 people were coalesced around Central London at around 13:30 on that day.

According to many participants in the march, its object was to “show solidarity” to the women in America. The website, “Women’s March on London”, claims that they “marched for the protection of … fundamental rights and for the safeguarding of freedoms” that are supposedly put in danger by President Trump’s presidency. The Women’s March on London is supported by many organisations such as Greenpeace and Oxfam GB.

Since his presidency, Donald Trump has already jumped into action. His newest controversial comment (to bring back the so-called “proper interrogation techniques”: torture) has already been attacked by numerous experts, such as Keith Best, who is the former chief executive officer of the charity “Freedom from Torture”. This has also been a source of outrage, because many people can't imagine an American President who thinks that torture is right. 

Could the outrage of the people be indicative of the downfall of women’s rights and fundamental freedoms?

Amrita Bhattacharyya, Bancroft's School