Virginians flock to Washington for MAGA Victory Rally ahead of Trump inauguration

By Sarah Hagen and Andrew Kerley, VCU Capital News Service

Retired Falls Church handyman John Magill braved cold rain and snow and a blocks-long line for the chance to see President Donald Trump speak at a rally ahead of his second inauguration. 

Magill held a handwritten sign with the words: “TRUMP IS THE G.O.A.T.” — short for “greatest of all time.”

“Just the way he handles things, he’s a businessman,” Magill said, about why he voted for Trump. “He wants to get rid of the corrupt government. The economy is better off with him.” 

Magill was one of several Virginians who called themselves commonsense voters, and who journeyed into Washington for Trump’s “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” at the Capital One Arena on Jan. 19.

These voters tell Capital News Service they want cheaper gas and food, more law enforcement support, less undocumented immigrants and things that “normal Americans love.” Several cited false or misleading statistics to back up their favorable view. 

Approximately 20,000 people were allowed into the rally that ran from approximately 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event featured guests like Kid Rock, Village People and Elon Musk, whose son X followed him on stage.

Trump, who did his trademark dance to a live “YMCA” performance, reiterated his promise to issue many executive orders upon taking office, which is common during the transfer of power.

“You're going to see executive orders that are going to make you extremely happy, lots of them,” Trump said to a cheering crowd, according to a transcript of his speech. “We have to set our country on the proper course.”

Trump promised the “most aggressive sweeping effort to restore our borders the world has ever seen.” Another initial focus will be to end “the Biden war on American energy” which Trump sees as a way to help defeat inflation and lower energy costs.

Arlington information technology specialist Bryan Malonjao immigrated from the Philippines. He became a naturalized citizen by serving in the Marine Corps for five years and now works at the Pentagon, he said. Malonjao supports Trump’s planned deportations.

“Do it the right way,” Malonjao said. “Do it the way I did it. I earned my citizenship.” 

Malonjao’s wife is currently in Turkey awaiting a process to migrate to the U.S., he said. He questions why Immigration and Citizenship Services are taking a year to make it happen. And he is frustrated by a belief that the Democratic Party is expediting cases of people “coming in here illegally already.” 

“This is all from the internet, you can see it, and they’re approving them a lot faster than someone who’s doing it the right way,” Malonjao said. 

There are currently 17 countries that have temporary protected status, which allows individuals who would be unsafe if deported back to those countries to stay temporarily but is not necessarily a permanent immigration pathway, according to the American Immigration Council. It can take anywhere from six months to 1.5 years to gain TPS. 

Malonjao also thinks it is unfair if undocumented immigrants receive more housing money than people who lost homes in Hurricane Helene, citing numbers similar to statements Trump made in the past that were disproven. 

 He also wants Trump to fix inflation. 

“Fix the tax, lower the grocery prices, gas prices,” Malonjao said. “Help out the veterans … honestly help out the veterans. A lot of veterans are suffering right now and I want those people to be helped first.”

Marcos Padilla from King George County said he was active in the earlier tea party movement that paved the way for the Make America Great Again movement, or MAGA. Padilla likes Trump because he “left us alone” during his first term.

“Just stay off our backs,” Padilla said. “We don’t need more regulations, we don’t need more laws, we don’t need more rules, we need fewer, right?”

Candy maker Rick Dotson of Staunton thinks Trump did “a really good job” the first time. He cited inflation and border security as top reasons he is excited to see Trump back in the Oval Office. 

Dotson, who works at Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, thinks this is a moment of change.

“I’ve seen a lot of different people out here today, a lot of different nationalities,” Dotson said. “I think it's going to bring the country together more, hopefully.”

Travelers and locals scrambled to find backup plans when Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration was moved inside the Capitol Rotunda due to forecasted freezing temperatures. Over 200,000 tickets were reportedly distributed, or promised, but only a fraction of that number could enter the Capital One Arena, which was used Monday as a location for people to watch a livestream of Trump’s swearing in. 

The president plans to take the stage again at the sports arena on Monday, as part of his inaugural parade ceremonies. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who attended the inauguration, told the press he is slated to deliver remarks at the arena before the parade.

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.