Democratic state officers have been largely subdued of their response to Donald Trump’s return to the White Home, marking a stark distinction from eight years earlier when many have been already stoking the resistance as he took workplace.
However there’s little doubt that Democrats throughout the nation will quickly be preventing the brand new administration’s aggressive coverage agenda on a number of fronts, most notably immigration and vitality, sparking confrontations within the courts and past.
The truth is, by the top of Trump’s first day again in workplace, many Democratic state officers have been already blasting the raft of govt orders he issued and submitting lawsuits.
“The intent [is] to assault folks’s rights,” mentioned Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, in one of the vital fiery responses. “That’s one thing we must put up with or cope with each single day of this administration. Right here in Illinois, we’re going to face up, combat again, observe the legislation and ensure they’re following the legislation.”
In the meantime, Republican state officers overwhelmingly hailed Trump’s return to the White Home on Monday and complete Republican management in Washington.
Right here’s a rundown of how a number of the nation’s most necessary governors, state attorneys basic and mayors noticed the momentous day:
GOVERNORS
Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.)
The place he was on Inauguration Day: In Los Angeles, coping with fallout from wildfires
What he mentioned: “As our nation observes the peaceable switch of energy, we’re reminded of the enduring ideas that underpin our democracy: discovering widespread floor and striving towards shared targets.
“Within the face of one of many worst pure disasters in America’s historical past, this second underscores the crucial want for partnership, a shared dedication to information, and mutual respect — values that allow civil discourse, efficient governance, and significant motion. I stay up for President Trump’s go to to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the total weight of the federal authorities to assist our fellow People recuperate and rebuild.”
Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.)
The place he was on Inauguration Day: Washington
What he mentioned: DeSantis highlighted Trump’s govt orders on unlawful immigration in a post on X. He’s presently in a battle with Republican leaders within the Legislature as a result of he desires to move new immigration legal guidelines to assist the Trump administration — however others aren’t on board. After the inauguration, DeSantis grew to become extra resolute. “We have to get to work,” DeSantis wrote. “We should seize this second.”
The governor was within the U.S. Capitol on Monday for the swearing-in ceremony and took some photos with other governors, however returned to Tallahassee that evening somewhat than stick round for the quite a few balls round Washington. A key issue was probably a uncommon winter storm hitting the state. He was at Florida’s Emergency Operations Middle by Tuesday morning briefing Floridians about keep secure amid circumstances that might result in energy outages and dangerous roads.
Phil Murphy (D-N.J.)
The place he was on Inauguration Day: After planning to journey to Washington, Murphy stayed in New Jersey to take care of winter storm response efforts
What he mentioned: Murphy tried to leverage the primary hours of Trump’s presidency to kill New York’s new congestion pricing plan, which tolls drivers getting into elements of Manhattan.
“As you start your second time period as president, I welcome any alternative to work with you and your administration the place we will discover widespread floor,” Murphy wrote in a letter the governor’s workplace launched shortly after Trump was sworn in. “One space the place I imagine our priorities align is congestion pricing.”
By 10 p.m., Murphy was sounding a unique be aware, criticizing Trump on X for pardoning Jan. 6 defendants.
Greg Abbott (R-Texas)
The place he was on inauguration day: Washington
What he mentioned: “Right this moment marks the start of a brand new period in our nation — one brimming with promise and hope,” Abbott mentioned in a press release. “As President Trump takes the oath of workplace and assumes his duties as America’s chief govt, I’m assured that his management will restore and strengthen the ideas which have lengthy outlined our nice nation: freedom, financial alternative, prosperity, and the rule of legislation. … Texas appears to be like ahead to working with President Trump and his Administration to safe the border and construct a brighter, extra affluent future for all People.”
JB Pritzker (D-In poor health.)
The place he was on Inauguration Day: In Chicago, for MLK Day occasions.
What he mentioned: Pritzker got here out swinging towards Trump inside hours of the inauguration, calling the president’s effort to revoke birthright citizenship “unconstitutional.” Pritzker additionally criticized the brand new administration for not working with native leaders on plans for deportations. “They haven’t communicated with us,” he instructed reporters. “That is indicative of what you’re going to see of the Trump administration for the subsequent 4 years. It’s chaos.”
The Illinois governor additionally referred to as Trump’s inauguration a gathering of “oligarchs,” a reference to tech barons Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos having prime seats on the swearing-in ceremony.
Maura Healey (D-Mass.)
The place she was on inauguration day: Attending occasions honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in Boston and Springfield
What she mentioned: “To begin with, we now have to see what the president does as soon as he’s sworn in and takes workplace. There’s been lots of speak about lots of various things taking place. We simply have to attend and see,” Healey instructed reporters Monday after Boston’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast. “I’ve been clear, although, with the folks of Massachusetts. … I’ll do all I can to work with the brand new federal administration the place it advantages the folks of Massachusetts, and I’ve additionally mentioned that we are going to not change who we’re right here within the state, and we’re going to proceed going ahead on the necessary investments that we’ve made. “
Jeff Landry (R-La.)
The place he was on inauguration day: Flew again from Washington early Monday earlier than the inauguration ceremony to cope with preparations for a uncommon winter storm in Louisiana
What he mentioned: “Gone are the times of open borders. Gone are the times the place People have to fret about fuel and grocery costs whereas taxpayer {dollars} are shipped abroad,” Landry mentioned in a press release a couple of days earlier than the inauguration. “Right this moment, below President Trump, begins a renaissance on this nation. One the place America and her folks will at all times come first. In Louisiana, we predict that’s worthy of celebrating!”
Wes Moore (D-Md.)
The place he was on inauguration day: Moore spent the day in Annapolis, taking part in a public service challenge and wreath-laying ceremony to honor King, in accordance with his public schedule
What he mentioned: “Our precedence has been — and can proceed to be — defending the pursuits of all Marylanders. Within the days after the 2024 election, we articulated our shared dedication to 4 key ideas: Ship for Marylanders; defend our constitutional rights; develop our economic system; and restore religion in our public servants, our establishments, and our democracy. We thank the Biden-Harris Administration for his or her steadfast partnership in pursuing every of those 4 targets, and we’ll companion with the Trump-Vance Administration after we are aligned on these core ideas that may make progress for Marylanders.”
Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa)
The place she was on inauguration day: Washington
What she mentioned: “I stand with President Donald Trump in promising to guard lives right here in Iowa and throughout our nation from harmful criminals illegally crossing the southern border,” Reynolds unhappy in a statement. “Former President Biden’s abdication of his constitutional obligation put harmless People in danger and turned each state right into a border state.”
Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.)
The place she was on inauguration day: Attended MLK march in Grand Rapids
What she mentioned: “I need to congratulate President Trump as he begins his second time period, and I stay up for attending to work on the priorities we share.
“Right here in Michigan, we’re centered on creating good-paying, native jobs, fixing the rattling roads, preventing for our superior manufacturing industries together with autos, protection, maritime, and aerospace, and dealing with our companions in Canada to maintain prices low for working households and small companies.
“Collectively, with Republicans and Democrats in Lansing and the brand new administration in D.C., I do know we will decrease prices, deliver extra manufacturing again to Michigan, increase analysis and innovation, and lower crimson tape.”
Attorneys Normal
Ken Paxton (R-Texas)
The place he was on inauguration day: Washington
What he mentioned: “It’s a nice day in America. President Trump’s inauguration marks the start of a brand new period and the triumphant return to the foundational ideas that make America nice,” Paxton wrote on X. Collectively, we’ll safe our borders, uphold the legislation, and restore the freedoms that Biden’s illegal insurance policies sought to undermine. Simply this morning I sued Biden for the final time, making it a complete of 106 authorized actions over the course of 4 years. As an alternative of empowering folks to pursue their American dream, Biden persistently abused his energy as he pushed a radical agenda that undermined our financial alternative, nationwide safety, and spiritual liberty.”
Rob Bonta (D-Calif.)
The place he was on inauguration day: Sacramento
What he mentioned: Across the time Trump was sworn in, Bonta spoke at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in downtown Sacramento. Bonta didn’t point out Trump’s identify, however he evoked King’s legacy in a pointed method: “Each era has needed to arise and guarantee that we proceed to have our rights, our freedoms, that our democracy is sound. And I decide to you to do every part in my energy to face with you as we try this within the days, months and years forward.”
Gentner Drummond (R-Okla.)
The place he was on inauguration day: Washington
What he mentioned: “It was an honor to be in our nation’s capital for this historic day & watch as President Trump was sworn in for his second time period,” said Gentner, who lately introduced that he’s running for Oklahoma governor in 2026. “I stay up for working with him to guard Oklahoma households & deport unlawful immigrants who’ve invaded our state. America’s finest days are really forward!”
Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)
The place he was on inauguration day: St. Paul, Minnesota
What he mentioned: “On at the present time, when there’s an inauguration, when the incoming president says that transgender folks simply don’t exist, [says] he’s going to evaluation the race and gender insurance policies of the federal authorities, clearly signaling that he’s going to do away with range, fairness, inclusion and our effort to strive and ensure America displays all of its folks. A day when he’s speaking about drill, child drill as LA, … the fires aren’t even all the way in which out but. The wreckage remains to be smoldering. Persons are nonetheless affected by that catastrophic catastrophe. He’s performing like there’s no such factor as local weather chaos. So I can’t consider a extra necessary day for this inauguration to occur and a extra necessary day for you and I to rededicate ourselves to the elemental ideas that Martin Luther King gave his life for.”
Tim Griffin (R-Ark.)
The place he was on inauguration day: Washington
What he mentioned: “I’m in Washington, D.C. at present with Elizabeth and our children for the inauguration of our forty seventh president, @realDonaldTrump,” Griffin wrote on X. “What an incredible expertise to share with our youngsters, witnessing firsthand our nation’s switch of energy. It’s a brand new day in America!”
Dana Nessel (D-Mich.)
The place she was on inauguration day: Lansing, Michigan
What she mentioned: “I’ve grave considerations relating to most of the proposed actions President Trump, and those that have been nominated to serve in his administration, have publicly promoted,” Nessle mentioned in a statement. “Many of those actions, if carried out, would contain flagrant violations of the USA Structure, the Administrative Procedures Act, and different federal legal guidelines and long-held requirements and confines by which all public actors should abide.”
Mayors
Eric Adams (D-New York)
The place he was on inauguration day: The mayor left city round 3 a.m. to go to Trump’s inauguration in what his workers described as a last-minute resolution, following an invite from Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Center East envoy and a New York actual property developer. The embattled mayor’s resolution to skip occasions commemorating MLK Day in New York in favor of attending Trump’s swearing-in ceremony sparked sturdy criticism from different metropolis officers.
What he mentioned: “On MLK Day, like Reverend Dr. King mentioned, we should put partisan politics apart to do what’s finest for our nation,” Adams mentioned in a post on X defending the choice. “I imagine there’s a lot we will obtain working alongside the federal authorities as we assist our metropolis’s values and combat for New Yorkers.”
Francis Suarez (R-Miami)
The place he was on Inauguration Day: Washington
What he mentioned: “As we glance to the long run, we now have each purpose to be optimistic in regards to the restoration of the American Dream, and I stay up for supporting you each on this journey to Make America Nice Once more,” Suarez posted on X, referencing Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Suarez additionally attended quite a few inauguration occasions all through the weekend, together with a breakfast and a gala for the Republican Celebration of Florida. The Metropolis of Miami despatched officers to assist with safety in Washington, a truth Suarez drew attention to on social media.
Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles)
The place she was on inauguration day: Los Angeles
What she mentioned: Talking at a press convention on Monday, Bass was requested about Trump’s deliberate go to to the area on Friday to witness wildfire damages. “I joined within the invitation to the president together with the governor and Kathryn Barger [the only Republican LA County supervisor], so it’s definitely my hope to satisfy with him. I do know it’s going to be a fast go to.”
In response to a query about what she would say to the president, Bass continued: “I’ll say welcome to Los Angeles and instantly go into what we’re dealing with proper now and the way we hope to proceed the federal partnership. … It’s my hope he shall be very supportive.”
Muriel Bowser (D-Washington, D.C.)
The place she was on inauguration: Washington
What she mentioned: “Each 4 years, Washington, DC is proud to assist the peaceable switch of energy, and I’m grateful for all of the groups working collectively to make this a secure and memorable occasion,” Bowser mentioned in a press release. “I’ve mentioned earlier than that I’m blessed with a way of optimism, and the power and resilience of my metropolis and our folks give me purpose to be optimistic.
“Right this moment, I’m optimistic that by specializing in our shared priorities with President Trump — whether or not it’s conserving DC secure and clear or bringing employees again to our Downtown — we’ll proceed to ship for DC and the American public.”
Liz Crampton, Paul Demko, Kelly Garrity, Shia Kapos, Kimberly Leonard, Julia Marsh and Ry Rivard contributed to this report.
