Crowds swarm National Mall to watch Trump make history

Supporters of President-elect Donald Trump gather on the National Mall before Trump is sworn in.Reuters

The crowd starts to fill the National Mall as the sun rises before the swearing in of Donald Trump.AP

Americans eager to see Donald Trump take the oath of office as the nation’s 45th president started to wend their way through downtown Washington, DC, and onto the National Mall before dawn Friday.

“It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES – THE WORK BEGINS!” Trump tweeted at 7:31 a.m.

Dump trucks and police cars blocked vehicle access for blocks around the Mall, as National Guard members and DC police stood at street corners across the city.

But there was plenty of room on sidewalks for those holding engraved tickets for a seat at Trump’s inauguration, as well as those without, who planned to watch from spots between the Capitol and the Washington Monument.

President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arrive for a church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church.AP

The “red gate” ticket entrance opened to cheers from those braving the cold and waiting in line in the city’s East End neighborhood. Some began a chant of “USA!”

Others picked up “Make America Great Again” caps and other Trump paraphernalia from street hawkers hours after the president-elect attended pre-inaugural festivities and later tweeted: “Thank you for a wonderful evening in Washington, D.C.”

Trump was scheduled to attend a church service with his family at 8:30 a.m. Friday before meeting President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama for tea at the White House at 9:30 a.m.

An hour later, the Trumps and the Obamas will travel together in the presidential limousine for the short trip to the Capitol for the noon swearing-in ceremony.

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will later bid adieu to the Obamas, who will fly off aboard “Executive One.”

Aides said Trump had been personally invested in crafting his inaugural address, a relatively brief, 20-minute ode that is expected to center on his vision for what it means to be an American.

Spokesman Sean Spicer said the address would be “less of an agenda and more of a philosophical document.”

Trump has pledged to upend Obama’s major domestic and national security policies, including repealing his signature health care law and building a wall along the US-Mexican border. But he’s offered few details of how he plans to accomplish his agenda — often sending contradictory signals.

The three days of inaugural festivities kicked off Thursday, when Trump left his Trump-branded jet in New York City and flew to Washington in a government plane, saluting an Air Force officer as he descended the steps with his wife, Melania.

He and Pence solemnly laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery before joining supporters for an evening concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

“We’re going to unify our country,” Trump said at the close of the two-hour concert featuring country star Toby Keith, soul’s Sam Moore and The Piano Guys. But not singer Jennifer Holliday, who backed out after an outcry from Trump critics.

With rain a possibility, the National Park Service announced that it was easing its “no umbrella” policy for Friday, allowing collapsible umbrellas along the parade route and on the National Mall.

Trump joked about the chance of a downpour.

“That’s OK,” Trump told campaign donors at an event Thursday night, “because people will realize it’s my real hair. Might be a mess, but they’re going to see that it’s my real hair.”

With Post wires