U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arrive at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Jan. 19, 2017.JONATHAN ERNST/Reuters
Donald Trump completes his long quest to become the next president of the United States on Friday, assuming leadership of a nation that views his ascendance with both hope and fear.
The most unconventional candidate ever to win a presidential election, Mr. Trump will be enveloped in the ceremony and tradition surrounding the transfer of power, one of the hallmarks of American democracy.
In Washington, authorities began their final preparations for a day of celebration and protest. A large area at the heart of the city will be closed to traffic and subject to security measures, with tens of thousands of police officers, members of the National Guard and Secret Service agents on alert.
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Mr. Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday ahead of the inauguration, flying in a U.S. military plane rather than his private jet, a reflection of his imminent change in status. He was joined by his wife, children and grandchildren.
He attended a lunch for Republican officials and large donors at the Trump International Hotel, then placed a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to honour American soldiers killed in battle. In the evening, he made an appearance at a Make America Great Again concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
"We're going to unify our country," Mr. Trump told the crowd. "I promise you, I will work so hard, we're going to turn it around."
He exited to a fireworks display as a choir sang Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Local authorities are expecting about 800,000 people to attend Mr. Trump's inauguration on Friday. That figure would be roughly equivalent to President Barack Obama's second inaugural in 2013, but far short of the record 1.8 million people who came to watch Mr. Obama become President in 2009.
Late Thursday, roads began to close and barriers went up in the area around the U.S. Capitol, where Mr. Trump will be sworn in at noon on Friday. Nearby subway stations will also close Friday. Other security precautions include welding shut manhole covers and posting snipers along the presidential parade route.
A host of everyday items are prohibited within the security perimeter, including backpacks, selfie-sticks, balloons and – crucially for a day when rain is predicted – umbrellas.
Authorities are anticipating dozens of demonstrations on inauguration day ahead of a much larger march planned for Saturday. Most of the protests are expected to be peaceful, but there is the potential for clashes. The last time there was a violent incident at an inauguration was in 2005 following the re-election of George W. Bush, according to The Washington Post. Two police officers were injured at a checkpoint during a skirmish.
Around Washington on Thursday, locals prepared for the disruptions caused by the inauguration with a mixture of resignation and dread. Only 4 per cent of voters in this heavily Democratic city supported Mr. Trump, a record low for a Republican candidate.
For Mr. Trump's hundreds of thousands of supporters who have converged on Washington, however, it is a time for rejoicing. At an inaugural concert on Thursday, crowds gathered on a mild evening as the sun began to set behind the Lincoln Memorial.
They clapped along to the sounds of military bands playing patriotic marches such as John Philip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever. They sang along to country music hits such as Proud to be an American and God Bless Texas. As Mr. Trump saluted the statue of president Abraham Lincoln and waved to the crowd, his supporters broke out in cheers.
Despite his team's efforts, Mr. Trump has been unable to attract the top ranks of American performers to his inaugural, with the possible exception of country-music star Toby Keith, who performed Thursday.
Steve Martin, 20, a college student from New Jersey in the audience, said he admired Mr. Trump's business acumen and brash persona. "The less you care what people think, the more you can accomplish in life," he said. He was eager to hear Mr. Keith perform.
Jon Voight, an actor and supporter of Mr. Trump, welcomed the crowd to the concert. "God answered our prayers," he said of Mr. Trump's election victory. "President Lincoln, who sits here, I'm sure is smiling" at the thought that "a good and honest man" will lead the country, Mr. Voigt asserted.
Robin Bunting, 55, stood in the crowd with her husband, cousin and childhood friend. It's the first time in her life that she has attended a presidential inauguration. "Election night was one of the greatest nights of my life because we took our country back," said Ms. Bunting, who lives in Rehoboth Beach, Del. "We were on the brink of demise."
"You just hope everyone will be respectful," she said of Friday's inauguration. "I'm hoping for a peaceful transfer of power and just a really nice day celebrating our freedom in America."