By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
There was cheering and clapping in Washington D.C. as President Donald J. Trump took the oath of office Friday, but the scene Inauguration Day was far different in the community room of the Princeton Public Library., None of the roughly 30 people watching the cable news coverage stood or made much of any sound as the man whom the community overwhelmingly voted against in November became the nation’s 45th president. Just silence., “I’m afraid of him,” said Mike Rosenthal as he was getting ready to leave., In a town that went heavily for Hillary Clinton, the crowd in the library was noticeably light. Those who came said they were surprised at how few people came to watch on the big screen, tuned to CNN’s coverage of the historic moment. Some sat with their arms folded, others ate lunch and, when “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played during the ceremony, a good number of the crowd sat instead of standing with the rest., Mr. Trump, in an inaugural address taking a direct shot at the Washington establishment, spoke of wanting to “rebuild” the country and “restore its “promise for all of our people.”, “It sounded like a long tweet,” said Karen Johnson, who said Mr. Trump’s remarks were not unifying. Elaine Baugh said the speech was not inclusive., Mr. Rosenthal said he thought the address was toned down from the campaign rhetoric that Mr. Trump had used last year. He was pessimistic of things getting done in Washington D.C., and said he had never seen the country as divided as it is now., Yet Inauguration Day was a chance for some to reflect on outgoing President Barack Obama, a Democrat who enjoyed the traditional helicopter ride from the Capitol to Joint Base Andrews, for a flight to California., Cathy Kreyche remembered attending Mr. Obama’s inaugural in 2009, and said Friday brought her back to that day eight years ago when she was standing with friends by the Washington Monument. She expressed “sadness” at his departure., Ms. Johnson said she was sorry to see Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, go. She said Ms. Obama had “extraordinary” abilities to connect with all people, and recalled her work with children, veterans and public health., Ms. Baugh called it a “surreal moment” of seeing Mr. Obama leave and be replaced by Mr. Trump, his “total opposite.”
