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Texas lawmakers react to inauguration: Congrats, criticism, and quiet

The Inauguration Of Donald J. Trump As The 47th President

Gov. Greg Abbott attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday inside the US Capitol. (Photo by Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

By Katie Serrano

January 20, 2025

From criticizing billionaires for sucking up to heralding the start of a new era, elected officials from across Texas reacted to President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

President Donald Trump received a mix of reactions during his inauguration from lawmakers throughout the state. Some offered up congratulations, while others criticized the gaggle of billionaire’s present or didn’t acknowledge the incoming president at all.

Billionaires ‘have come to town to suck up to him’

Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat who represents parts of Austin and San Antonio, took to X to point out the posse of billionaires sitting front row during the inauguration. 

“The most telling thing about Donald Trump’s inauguration won’t be a line in his speech — it’s all the billionaires and special interests who have come to town to suck up to him,” Casar posted. “It’s clear that in Trump’s second term, he can count on support from billionaires and corporate special interests in exchange for massive tax cuts that will hurt working families. As Democrats, we will be up against a huge propaganda machine and powerful special interests aligned with Trump. But we can start winning back working people by exposing this corrupt bargain that the inauguration illustrates so well.”

‘The beginning of a new era in our nation’

Gov. Greg Abbott, who attended the inauguration and received a shoutout from Trump during his remarks at Emancipation Hall in the US Capitol,  shared his congratulations on X. 

“President Trump will restore & strengthen the principles that define our nation: freedom, economic opportunity, prosperity, & the rule of law,” his statement read. 

Trump, who during his speech stated that he would declare a national emergency at the border, commended Abbott for his leadership and work on the border wall, crediting him as “an unbeatable governor.” 

After the inauguration, Abbott shared the letter he wrote to Trump asking the president to “protect Texas and the entire U.S. from the invasion along our southern border by exercising the full scope of his constitutional authority.”

Bipartisan support

US Rep. Julie Johnson, a Democrat who represents parts of North Texas and became the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress from the South, attended Trump’s inauguration, emphasizing the need for a “peaceful transition of power” and showing “support for our democracy.”

“My job is to fight to make life better for Texas families, and I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who is interested in lowering costs, securing our border, and keeping our communities safe,” Johnson posted on X following the inauguration. “But make no mistake, I will always stand up to President Trump, his administration, division, and far-right extremism when any of those individuals or entities threaten our way of life.”

A final lawsuit from Ken Paxton

Attorney General Ken Paxton also congratulated Trump on X, but not without mentioning one final lawsuit he filed on Monday against former President Joe Biden.

“Together, we will secure our borders, uphold the law, and restore the freedoms that Biden’s unlawful policies sought to undermine,” Paxton posted. “Just this morning I sued Biden for the last time, making it a total of 106 legal actions over the course of four years. Instead of empowering people to pursue their American dream, Biden consistently abused his power as he pushed a radical agenda that undermined our economic opportunity, national security, and religious liberty.”

Paxton also received a shoutout during Trump’s appearance at Emancipation Hall, calling him someone who is “good at pushing people around.”

“I called the attorney general,” Trump added, referencing when Paxton sued the Biden administration for attempting to sell border wall materials, a case he won on Jan. 8 that prevented the administration from auctioning off or selling any border wall materials. 

Notably silent

Some Texas Democrats didn’t acknowledge Trump’s transition to power. US Rep. Jasmine Crockett, known for her fiery and outspoken remarks, posted on X that she would be “protecting the last little bit of peace” she has before “the next four years of hell is unleashed.”

Crockett, who represents parts of Dallas, told the Dallas Morning News that she’s participating in activities honoring Martin Luther King Jr. rather than attending the inauguration.

“The idea of celebrating someone that I consider to continuously desecrate the work and the legacy of Martin Luther King on Martin Luther King Day — it was just kind of like a double whammy and an absolute no for me,” Crockett told the media outlet. “He’s never shown me anything that would be worthy of me being in attendance there instead of being with people that want to pay honor and homage to the work that was done by MLK.”

CATEGORIES: TRUMP

Author

  • Katie Serrano

    Katie Serrano is the DFW Political Reporter for Courier Texas. She received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas in Editorial Journalism and News Narratives. She is passionate about making local journalism accessible and engaging young audiences, and has worked in editing, content management, newsletter production, social media marketing and data reporting. When not obsessing over the news she can be found with her nose in a romance novel, walking her Bernese Mountain Dog around her Lower Greenville neighborhood, or watching reruns of The Great British Bake Off.

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