On Friday, January 20, a newly elected president emerged.

Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States.

The days and weeks before his inauguration were not filled with peaceful preparation, but instead with bomb threats, protest rallies, and heightened security alerts for what should have been the peaceful transference of power that is the hallmark of our democracy.

Instead, protesters took to the streets of our nation’s capital burning cars, breaking windows, resulting in over 100 people arrested in D.C. alone the day of the ceremony.  Many people refused to attend or even watch the inauguration at all

Is this how we celebrate democracy?

Inaugurations celebrate a peaceful transition of power and Trump began his speech by telling the American people that this day did not belong to him, it belonged to us, the people.

Trump’s speech, a mere 16 minutes in length, was directed at the “forgotten American,” telling us that today is the day we, the voters, take back our country.  His speech was not poetic and lacked the soaring rhetoric of previous presidents but it was directed squarely at the Washington elite, both Democrats and Republicans alike–the power base of Washington.

In his address he stated, “For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost, Washington flourished–but the people did not share in its wealth.  Politicians prospered–but the jobs left, and the factories closed.  The establishment protected itself but not the citizens of our country.”

Trump wanted his speech to be for the people, he stood before America not as a Democrat or a Republican, but as something altogether different, and he was determined to hold true to his promises that he made on the campaign trail.

His words actually gave me goosebumps. I knew I was witnessing a very powerful moment in history. Could this be the first sign of a viable third party candidate who ran under the GOP banner?

I thought I heard a very quiet, almost imperceptible crack in the power base of Washington.

He remarked, “From this day forward it’s going to be only America first,” he addressed the American workers and families, the middle class with, “you will never be ignored again.”

Trump’s long road to the White House was fueled by the unhappiness and anger that he heard from the forgotten Americans who didn’t have union bosses, or special interest groups advocating for them–he became their voice.

Trump also stated, “What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.”

During his speech, Trump pledged allegiance to neither party–it was an inauguration speech like no other by a president like no other.  He told the people, “When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”

During the parade, Trump emerged from his motorcade to greet both supporters and protesters alike; unafraid to be who he is, the CEO who came to Washington, and he has a job to do; one that “We the People” elected him to do.

Put all the hatred and shaming aside.

Donald Trump may have only gotten 50 percent of the vote but he is now 100 percent our President.

Let’s give this man a chance to lead our country.