WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The inauguration of US President Donald Trump was covered by 17 photographers for Reuters in Washington. From the eye view of the US capital to the president’s lunch table to the trash left strewn outside security checkpoints, Reuters was there to capture the pomp and ceremony, the hope and celebration of those supporters, and the fears and protests of opponents.

The news organizations’ original, carefully laid plans were thrown into disarray on Friday, when a forecast of snow and freezing temperatures led to last-minute changes. The swearing-in ceremony itself was moved from a stage outside the Capitol, where it takes place in front of large crowds, to the small, packed Capitol rotunda indoors.

Some Trump supporters still flocked to today’s largely empty and frozen National Mall lawn, watching the event on their phones. Some gathered at the hotel’s bars, while others scored the coveted 20,000-seater tickets. Capital One (NYSE:) Arena. A parade originally intended to go down Pennsylvania Avenue instead took place at the arena, while Trump and some of his top allies also gave speeches there to an emotional crowd.

Photographers were there to cover everything for Reuters — and everywhere else, too, including the steps of the White House, the top of the Washington Monument, and the anti-Trump protests.

Below is a selection of some Reuters photos taken of the day’s events and in the lead up to them, along with comments from the photographers who took them.

Fabrizio Bensch

“In September 2024 I started planning the implementation of robotics and remote cameras for the inauguration of the president of the US. When I arrived here at the beginning of January we started to prepare everything for the inauguration outside the platform on Capitol Hill. And then came the unexpected news that because of the cold weather everything was going to be in the rotunda.

“Now there are only three days to re-plan everything. We have been assigned a position where we can mount two remote cameras on a light truss directly opposite the position of the president’s platform at the inauguration. These cameras were connected to the network and were able to send all the photos from the rotunda live to the editors of the Washington Reuters bureau.”

Brendan McDermid

“This is my fourth inauguration in 25 years. became less important. That didn’t stop me from taking a moment to appreciate where I was this morning, as the sky turned orange before dawn, looking down at the National Mall and the Capitol Building.

Daniel Cole

“The situation in the Mall was terrible because it was mostly empty, but the crowd of supporters who came out were completely happy and many expressed a general feeling of relief that their man was back in power. This one couple brought camping chairs and sitting in the empty Mall, watching the ceremony on their phone together.”

Jeenah Moon

“As winter takes hold in Washington, the air is chilly, one of the coldest days of the season. I make sure to wear warm clothing – thick thermals, a cozy fleece, hand warmers and a heavy coat – to protect myself from In addition, I carefully prepare my camera gear, making sure the batteries are fully charged, because the cold will drain them more faster than usual ahead of me.”

Kevin Lamarque

“As a Reuters staff photographer for over 37 years, with the past 25 in Washington, I’ve covered many campaigns, elections and inaugurations. This inauguration, however, was well outside the box. .The other six inaugurations I’ve covered are outside, as is the tradition of no doubt hundreds of members of the media and thousands of Trump supporters are deeply hypothermic.”

Marco Djurica

“This is my first time working in the US and, of course, it means that this is my first inauguration. I can compare it to the coronation of King Charles that I did in London, but this is bigger. Security-wise, it is not believable. It’s safe and there are police everywhere, the streets are closed and the biggest challenge is going from an anti-Trump protest to the inauguration within a secure perimeter.”

Shannon Stapleton

“For the last three or four elections on inauguration days, I was assigned to cover the Mall area, where people assembled. This year is different, because it’s inside the Capital One Arena, so you have to move. around and adjust – which makes the job easier, because it’s like street photography.”

Brian Snyder

“I’ve covered inaugurations since 2004 and the president-elect danced with the Village People like I’d never seen before. Throughout the campaign, Trump would end most of his rallies dancing to a recording of ‘ YMCA.’ This is the first time he has joined the band himself.

New Mike

“These are important moments in history … and we are fortunate to witness these moments and bring them to a global audience.”

Amanda Perobelli

“I’ve only been to one presidential inauguration – in Brazil – and it’s interesting to see the difference in cultures. There are also some similarities – the emotions, people waiting, cheering and this feeling of being part of history. The challenge for me is the cold, for sure, because we don’t have cold like this in Brazil.”

Evelyn Hockstein

“I thought Melania Trump’s hat was an interesting sight. I couldn’t see her eyes so it didn’t surprise me that it had a lot of buzz. It was very visible and for a few moments I had a clear shot of Melania that I spent. maybe they all photographed her and the hat against this clean backdrop with President Trump sitting next to her during lunch.

Nathan Howard

“My main task today is getting Trump’s morning arrival for tea with (outgoing President Joe) Biden, and then Trump’s arrival back at the White House after his swearing-in. day at the school before graduation – many staff members waved goodbye to each other and packed up, some craning their necks to see Trump’s arrival.

“It is a rare and fascinating thing to witness two icons of American political life in one room. Each of them is usually the most important person in any room they enter. Now they share on stage as power shifts.”

Elizabeth Frantz

“The biggest challenge for me is not knowing in advance if I’m going to be outside a certain position for six hours straight or just one to two hours at a time. to get back outside .But I braved the cold, and then changed into the semi-formal clothes I kept in the Capitol Hill photo office before going to the Liberty Ball (NYSE:).

Jim Urquhart

“I have specialized in covering armed extremist groups for over a decade in America. This includes several years covering the Proud Boys in their homes and their communities. This is a small gathering than most I’ve covered. But it shows that the Proud Boys are still here – or rather, never gone.”

Leah Millis

“This time I covered a small group of protesters. They started in a park and marched near downtown but stayed about a mile away. The energy was different because (these were) unhappy people of the incoming administration. There will be anger, singing, but also music to have people dancing and people giving each other support in the form of water, snacks and hand warmers.”

Kevin Mohat

“This Martin Luther King Day, I went to the MLK Memorial where I saw a lot of people who were in town for the inauguration. Because they couldn’t see it, they went to the memorial. It’s challenging to plan around.

Carlos Barria

“For Inauguration Day I have a dynamic and fast-paced task. We accompany the new president wherever he goes until he makes his last move for the day, and then we return home. The challenges are many: from facing the cold during black tie, to long hours, with few breaks to eat (But) I always say that this job is a seat in front of history, and I had the privilege of witnessing it.