Washington prepares for Friday's inaugural festivities

A group of anti-Trump protesters held a rally in Washington on Wednesday evening (Jan 18) as preparations got under way for the president-elect’s inauguration. Refusefascism.org said they wanted to stop the Trump presidency before it begins.

Writing my inaugural address at the Winter White House, Mar-a-Lago, three weeks ago. Looking forward to Friday. #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/S701FdTCQu

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2017

Meanwhile America’s next leader has taken to Twitter urging people to show up for Friday’s festivities when he becomes the US’s 45th president.

This is our day in history. On January 20 we will #MAGA with realDonaldTrump and mike_pence!

Join us → https://t.co/nNXbsJp2Yy pic.twitter.com/dHOKzVDzud

— Trump Inauguration (@TrumpInaugural) 16 janvier 2017

However two New York Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Adriano Espaillat have become the latest of around 50 Democrats who have said they’ll be staying away from Washington on the auspicious day, criticising what they called Trump’s contempt for civil liberties.

But police in the US capital are expecting vast crowds to witness Trump’s swearing-in. His planning committee are saying as many two million could attend, but police say around 900,000 is more accurate. Either way fences and barriers are being erected to ensure the safety of those hoping to get a glimpse of the historic moment.