On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, thousands of New Yorkers are expected to gather at Columbus Circle for a star-studded rally and protest.  Mayor de Blasio, Robert de Niro and other elected officials and celebrities are speaking out against the president-elect’s proposed policies on health care, climate change and immigration, among others. 

New Yorkers, however, are split on how the Mayor should deal with Trump, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.  46 percent said the Democratic mayor should try to get along with the Republican president-elect, while 45 percent said he should be a national leader in opposing Trump’s policies.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump left New York for Washington today for three days of inaugural festivities.  After appearing at a luncheon this afternoon, the president-elect laid a wreath at Arlington Cemetery.  He and his family are also attending a welcome celebration concert at the National Mall.   He is then set to be sworn in at noon tomorrow.

It comes as President Obama is cutting short the sentences of 330 federal inmates convicted of nonviolent drug crimes on his last day in office.  It’s part of an effort to address the harsh consequences of decades-old drug sentencing requirements.  The final batch of commutations is the most any U.S. president has issued in a single day.

What’s your reaction to Obama’s last major act as president?  How will you remember President Obama?  Are you celebrating or protesting tomorrow’s inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States?  Are you planning on attending the inauguration festivities in Washington?  How do you think Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo should deal with Trump?

Reply with your thoughts to thecall@ny1.com.

 

Natasha's Thoughts

After an election year filled with extremes, it's not too surprising to see both jubilant celebrations and frustrated protests on the same night.  After tonight, Donald Trump will be in a position to enact change, rather than complain about the status quo - let's hope he follows through.

 

Viewer E-mails

 

If I have the opportunity to meet with president Obama before he leaves office, I would have only one thing to say. Thank you for all your service and dedication.

And if I have the opportunity to meet with chosen president Trump, I would have one thing to remind him. As we The American citizens, we have all the rights to question our president, like it or not. And as a president is obligated to honestly respond.

That's what I love about this already great country.

We The People. 

Alberto from Florida

 

strong word but I hate all who protest tonight at Columbus Circle and allwho protest legally elected Trump, It is a shame that Di Blassio leading the demonstration, many who were  pardoned by Obama I agree, especially Manning and Lopez who beleives in independent Puerto Rico, though my reason is very different, I shall remember Obama as the worst president and a president lacks class! Mannings was pardoned because “she” is transgender! Both Di Blassio and Gov. Coumo should wait until President Trump will enact some of his policies, Joco from Sunnyside.

 

The City leaders should respect president Trump, he did win the Presidential race because he will be a better President than Hillary. I will be watching the Inaugural festivities tonight and tomorrow, I wanted to go down to D.C. to see it live and up close but I know the hotels are filled up. President Trump and V.P. Mike Pence will make America safe great and strong again

Herman

Upper West Side

 

I am protesting this day and every day for the next 4yrs!

I live in east village

-Jax

 

I am thrilled that Trump won!

Finally we can correct Obama's horrendous foreign policy, and domestically think about all Americans without identity partisan politics.

- Laureen (midtown west)

 

Protesting this abomination

Enid 

 

The strangest thing is experiencing a peaceful transition of power from an elegant, righteous, inclusive administration to a disruptive, self-centered, indefensible, divisive crew.

Josh from Park Slope 

 

Like many others I'm not too happy with the transition about to take effect tomorrow I will not be attending or watching it through the media's lens. Sorry News 1!!!!

Tim from Harlem 

 

celebrating trump because it will help Democrats win the Congress

Peter

Bay Ridge

 

Nora in Wakefield said it all.  I agree with her 1000%.  President Obama was a Class Act.  The incoming person has no class and is amoral.  What happened to us as a country that we have to have a person such as Trump in the highest and most dignified office in the world?  A man with no dignity or grace and the morals of an ally cat.  Something is very, very wrong with our country that we have come to this.

Frances

East Village

 

President Obama is one of the most intelligent people to ever hold the office.           

            He inherited an economy in free fall; we were losing 800,000 jobs a month; now we are gaining 200,000 jobs a month. The unemployment rate was 10%; now it is under 5%.

            He saved the Auto Industry.

            He led the world to an agreement to start to slow global warming.

            And he got Bin Laden.

            His decency and compassion and quiet dignity, and that of his family, will be sorely missed.

            Thank You President Obama.

            Paul,

              from Jamaica

 

I just want to say Trump is big recipe for disaster. Doesn't deserve to be President, thinks Mexicans are criminals, deporting Muslims, Twitter is his love-life, still won't release his tax returns, and makes fun of people with disabilities. I don't know how any human being can see anything good in a man like Trump, especially women since it's been said a couple times that he's touched one in the private area. No sympathies for any regretful Trump Supporters. After all Hillary won the popular vote by 3 million votes and Russia probably did everything in their power to make Hillary look bad and do all they could help Trump win. I feel like Vladimir Putin is the one pulling the strings and is the real President since him and his followers interfered in the Election. Trump denied it but it sounds suspicious.

Brandon

Riverdale

 

The election of donald trump was more about the flagrant, narrow-minded, partisan policies of barak obama than donald trump the man. Obama states that race relations in this country has gotten better under his watch which clearly isn't the case. Wake up, America! I am not a white man. 

Raymond

astoria

 

Tomorrow will be a very sad for me too. I will wear black in memory of our democracy and it's not because "I'm sore loser because my candidate lost" as the Republicans like to call us but because I'm very afraid for my country's future!

Andrea

 

Obama was doing nothing serious about climate change. At least now it’s right in our faces. We all have to take action and not leave this in the hands of the government.

If we don’t address climate change, nothing else will matter in 30 years.

nyla from astoria

 

Why cry and carry on about this President. Nothing will change. For 4 years he's the United States President. All we can do as Americans is pray for peace and speedy 4 years.

Jenny Lower East Side 

 

Us democrats need to start focusing on 2020. But as for now, I think this man is an embaressment, he should have never been able to run in the first place. NO POLITICAL EXPERIENCE! He probably could not have even gotten a job at TARGET!

-Alex 

East Harlem

 

I am astonished that Mayor Diblasio, Mayor of a major city in the United States, would openly encourage a battle against the president-elect. To whatever party or non-party you  may relate , IF YOU ARE A TRUE AMERICAN WHO BELIEVES IN THE CONSTITUTION,  my recommendation is RESPECT OUR OFFICE OF PRESIDENT..sit back, relax, enjoy the show and be supportive of our leader UNLESS they prove otherwise.

Carol from Queens

 

Just a reminder from 1975, when nyc was broke and needed a bail out from the federal government. Headlines, Dropdead. This came from president Ford. De javu. Don't play with President Trump. Cal. From Brooklyn.

 

I believe that the media has blown this whole thing entirely out of proportion, yes Trump isn't qualified but it is getting out of hand here. WE ARE FORGETTING THAT THIS IS A DEMOCRACY! HE IS NOT THE DICTATOR OF RUSSIA!

-Chris in Hialeah, FL

 

I don't think Governor Cuomo Will allow deBlasio to prevent this city from getting Federal Funding.

Because this protest that deBlasio is leading is just a political stunt for him to campaign.  I think Mr. Trump is keeping Preet Bhara on to prosecute deBlasio for his crimmes in campaigning illegaly when he got elected.

Charlene Midwood

 

President Obama is the BEST.

Incredibly smart, savvy, thoughtful, sincere, a real agent of the people. He will be missed like no other.

Governor Cuomo and Mayor

de Blasio need to shut off tax payer dollars to Trump and his NYC security catastrophe.

Trump is wreaking havoc on our traffic and wasting our money. If he wants to be president, then he needs to go where he is supposed to be. If he insists on being in NYC, make him pay his own way.

Trump has already shown himself to be a malignant narcissist and a repugnant delinquent. He is a major disaster for this country.

Tina

East Village

 

I am a Democrat, but I will cross party lines if I think the opposition candidate is better.  I wouldn't mind if a normal Republican had been elected, but this guy?  He is a nightmare and I hope he will be impeached very soon because he does not meet the criteria and high standards needed to be President.  This is a dark, dark time for America.  We have hit bottom.

Vickie

Stuyvesant Town

 

My hopes for Donald trumps administration is that I hope he does not ban Muslim Americans from entering the us as he said he would because to be honest with you...I have a grandmother who is living in Bangladesh but she is getting ready to come to America to live here in about 2 to 3 weeks now so I would not want Donald trump to do that other wise it won't be good for her. I will be really upset. That is one thing I am hoping for. And also I hope that he makes health care affordable for many Americans so it won't affect us much. That are my hopes for Donald trump. And also...I will remember Barack Obama by the fact that He was the best president ever to serve America and by the fact that he was the nation's first african American president. That is how I will remember Obama.

No I am not planning to attend the innaguration tomorrow and I might not watch it.

Thanks for taking time to read my thoughts.

Jim

Jamaica queens 

 

Michelle2020!

Mr. Corgi

Midwood

 

Trump touting the intelligence of his cabinet compare these:

Ernest Moniz, current energy secretary under Obama is an American nuclear physicist. He served as Professor of Physics and as the Director of the Laboratory for Energy at MIT Institute of Technology. He graduated Stanford University with a degree in Nuclear Physics. He served as Under Secretary of Energy from 1997 to 2001 during the Clinton Administration.

Rick Perry, couldn't even remeber the name of the Dept of Energy at the Presidential debates and didn't know going into the committee hearings today that the Secretary of Energy has jurisdiction over all Nuclear operations, including power plants, nuclear waste and weapons. He disavows science and is neither a physist nor an engineer. This is who will be in charge of United States nuclear sites and energy production.

Steve from Brooklyn

 

I've never gotten real reasoning as to why someone can like Trump. It's funny, he just riles people up and thats why he won.

Moteckk

Dulles, Virginia

 

I'm celebrating for my coming President Donald Trump, to give the opportunity to make good for our country, to help the Poor class to stop leaving dollar by dollar and create more jobs for people who has to support their families.

Lissette 

 

Encouraging seeing so many young people take to the streets to protest the Trump presidency.  Haven't seen so many of the younger generation out there pushing back since the Vietnam Days.  It was very heartening.

Bruce 

 

Our governor and our mayor should deal with Trump in the manner that is best for New York State and New York City. A little history lesson it's called states rights. the principle of states rights does not exist by accident it was put there for reason it was put there to fight against the hegemony of an overly powerful federal government.  The same way there is checks and balances for the federal government states rights exists to protect local government.

 I'm troubled by one of your previous callers who said that we should respect president Trump and abide by him really?  He insulted a disabled reporter making a mockery of the Americans With Disabilities Act he insulted Mexicans he insulted Muslims we New Yorkers are proud about diversity we cannot tolerate this kind of behavior

this is an inauguration not a coronation he has to prove to us that he's worthy of the office because he certainly didn't do it during the campaign

Kelly 

Upper East side 

 

I'm not celebrating. I'm not protesting. I'm cautiously optimistic that he can cut the size of govenment and taxes. I'm pessimistic that he is able to dignify the office.

Jenny,

Murray Hill

 

I am celebrating trump he is honest and refreshing he does not operate using underhanded secret agenda.  I agree with him about jobs, military, security and about relationship with Israel.  Boo to the boycotters including our elected officials representing NY if you boycott this non partisan event of prominant importance the inauguration you are starting on wrong foot and must show willingness to work with president to fairly represent NY.  Give Trump a chance.

Judy Forest Hills 

 

Obviously Trump"s priority is not to unify the country. He's making speeches now at his pre- inaugural events making negative statements like he's still campaigning and banners up for tomorrow indicating "Make America Great Again" as though America isn't. Trump has appointed an all white cabinet with the exception of 1, Ben Carson. Most of whom are unqualified including Betsy DeVos,  Rick Perry, and Ben Carson who were unbelievably unknowledgeable .

Dee Dee

Harlem

 

Who is going to pay for the demonstrations, the same tax payers who pay for the infrastructure and military protection of this country.  But not the SMART non- tax payers like D Trump.  

       From Percy in Harlem.  

 

President Trump, I believe, will bring back jobs to the U.S.  This will cure many of our country's ills.  Good Luck

PRESIDENT TRUMP.  Show some of these blind Democrats the way.

Elizabeth of Kew Gardens

 

Because Obana us black no one is talking about what good Obama did and the state of iur ciuntry before he took  over.  To start with all the problems with Trump they still voted for him. I heard black men did not go to vote I don't know.  But fir Trump to win God want to teach American lessons. They American  choose to vote for a man like trump as far as he white. But the deed is done lets face it. Trump is no doubt he will try to spoik all good things Obama did. Thanks. Please give him a chance. His oppressions will force people to seek God. 

My name is Deborah from Fortlee New Jersey .