Trump inauguration LIVE updates: President-elect holds MAGA party as US prepares to swear in Donald Trump

Washington is one of America’s most Democratic electorates, and more than 90 per cent voters here chose Kamala Harris to be the next president at November’s election. But right now, it looks and feels like Trump country.

In downtown DC, excited fans have been braving the wind and drizzle for hours – some even arriving overnight – to get one of the 20,000-odd seats inside Capitol One Arena for the president-elect’s so-called “victory” rally.

As someone who has lived here for the past few years, it’s quite a novel sight: the streets are filled with tens of thousands of folks in MAGA caps and beanies; vendors are selling everything from commemorative Trump coins and cups, to American flags and T-shirts.

At one point a cardboard cutout of Trump on a surfboard was “surfing” through the crowd as people passed it along towards the front of the queue.

Scrap workers Logan Page, 21 and Blake Bridges, 20, flew over from Georgia hoping to see the president-elect, and were so thrilled to be in Washington for his inauguration weekend that they didn’t mind if they couldn’t make it to into the venue.

“It was my first time flying on a plane, and it’s my first time in DC – and it’s awesome,” said Page as the pair made their way to the end of the line, which by that stage was almost two Metro stops away from the arena.

“Even being right here, I can feel his presence. That’s how powerful it is.”