In 2017, I sat with a few journo pals below the podium on the west front of the Capitol and watched Donald Trump be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. After taking the oath of office, which he took approximately as seriously as he did contracts he’d signed with workmen in Atlantic City, he delivered what is unquestionably the weirdest inaugural address in American history-the now infamous “American Carnage” speech. Former President George W. Bush, seated nearby, reputedly called Trump’s remarks “some weird shit,” which I believe he actually did say because that’s what all of us in my little slice of the audience said, too.
Read the rest of Charlie Pierce’s piece at Esquire Politics.
