The last time thousands gathered in the nation's capital to support Donald Trump, it didn't end well. On January 6, 2021, the president’s most fervent supporters sacked the seats of American democracy, interrupting — but not preventing — the certification of his defeat. Two weeks later, Trump was disgraced and impeached from office. For a while, it seemed more likely that he would be imprisoned than return to power. The next four years were marked by investigations and prosecutions, felony convictions and assassination attempts, and Trump was bloodied and defiant.

Over the weekend, pro-Trump crowds arrived in Washington, D.C., not to protest, but to win. For many, the only disappointment was not witnessing his inauguration. Freezing temperatures forced the ceremony to be held inside the U.S. Capitol, which can accommodate only the wealthiest and most connected of the new president's supporters. Still, the rest found other ways to celebrate. Thousands of people braved the freezing cold and lined up for a pre-inauguration rally at Capital One Arena on Sunday. Some attended balls and lavish parties across the city, while others found the warmth and ample television screens in crowded Washington bars. Yesterday at noon, they watched Trump take the oath of office for the second time, ending the most unlikely political comeback in American history. His jubilant supporters in the capital and a divided country at home are hoping for a better outcome.