(Source: MIRS.news, Published 01/21/2025) About two dozen House Republicans traveled to D.C. this weekend for President Donald Trump’s inauguration like the fans of an underdog football team on their way to the championship game. 

“God bless President Trump, and I am so glad to see our nation’s greatest leader vindicated. And all nations are rejoicing!” Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) told MIRS.  

House Republicans that were seen online in D.C. include Reps. Joseph Aragona (R-Clinton Township), Matthew Bierlein (R-Vassar), Timothy Beson (R-Bay City), Ken Borton (R-Gaylord), Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan), Phil Green (R-Millington), Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), Mike Harris (R-Clarkston), Tom Kunse (R-Clare), Pat Outman (R-Six Lakes), Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River), Donni Steele (R-Lake Orion), Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Township), Ron Robinson (R-Utica), John Roth (R-Interlochen), Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet), Jason Woolford (R-Howell) and more.  

Included in this was House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), who said he was struck by the difference between the Michigan Gala from 2017 to 2025. In 2017, he remembers seeing one Democrat show up, the now-late John Dingell. The crowd by and large were Trump supporters, and that was about it. 

This year the festivities were held at the American History Museum, and several other members of the Democratic congressional delegation showed up along with such dignitaries as former Gov. Jim Blanchard and former U.S. Sen. Spence Abraham. He heard former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was there, but he didn't see him. 

The turnout was good, despite the Detroit Lions game going on at the exact same time. 

“It's almost like it was back to normal again, as if people are accepting of it,” Hall said. “It was business as usual again.” 

Since the Inauguration was moved indoors to the Capitol rotunda, the legislators weren’t able to attend the limited-space venue, but found other ways to celebrate, like a party at the Sax Restaurant hosted by Michigan Republican Party chair candidate Scott Greenlee. 

Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), who watched from Greenlee’s party, said she attended several events during the weekend such as the rally the night before the inauguration, the Capital One Arena rally after the inauguration, and the Liberty Ball, where Trump made an appearance on stage. 

“Everybody was happy. It’s like we were living under four years of oppression, and it had been lifted, and the people were light and cheery,” Rigas said.  

What stood out to Rigas from the inaugural address, she said, is that it feels like America can hope and dream again. As a mother of two young adults, and thinking about how much has changed since she was their age, Rigas said the new administration marks a step toward being able to afford a house or support a family on one income and even take a vacation, things that an affordability crisis prevent. 

Of the executive orders Trump has already signed since yesterday, Rigas mentioned that she’s excited about the pardoning of Jan. 6 defendants. Even though Rigas was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, she isn’t a defendant and so the executive order doesn’t apply to her, but she said what happened to those people “was completely unacceptable.” 

“What I saw and what the media reported are just completely different. I saw police starting fights with people, I saw police tear-gassing people just standing in the crowd. They were very unprepared and did not have the security they needed, and it just went wrong. But the vast majority of those people were not there to commit violent acts,” Rigas said.  

Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Rockford) wasn’t at the Greenlee party or in the Capitol rotunda, but was viewing from the living room of a family member who lives in the area. 

Posthumus said he enjoyed having the opportunity to spend time with his sister and brother-in-law, and probably wouldn’t have attended the ceremony in person if it was held on the National Mall.  

Posthumus said Trump saying “in America, the impossible is what we do best” is what stood out to him the most from the inaugural remarks. Posthumus said Michigan House Republicans are going to play a big role in that by holding the government accountable.