OXON HILL, Md. – About 11,000 attended the annual Texas State Society Boots and Black Tie Ball on Thursday at National Harbor to celebrate the inauguration of Donald Trump .
Stetsons and snakeskin boots completed the ensembles of tuxedo-clad men and women in ball gowns. For those who forgot to pack their cowboy gear, there was a boot store set up in the lobby just outside the ballroom.
« Out of all the balls that are held, my experience is that this is the funnest one, » said Rebecca Contreras of Austin, a former special assistant to the president during the George W. Bush administration. « It’s more personal, a little more lively in terms of the people that are here. Texans are really friendly. »
C. J. Waters, who served as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention last August, drove 21 hours from North Lake, Texas, for the inauguration, and filled her schedule with as many events as she could.
« I expect that we will see a better United States, » said Waters. « I do realize it is not going to happen overnight because we did not get into this situation overnight. »
David Harding said he doesn’t support all of Trump’s positions but hopes he will be able to correct what he views as mistakes in the Obama administration’s economic policy.
« Hopefully we’ll be able to be able to bring together America and see America be an economic power again. »
Deborah Buchan also had reservations about Trump initially but eventually considered him the best candidate. The Plano resident proudly referred to herself and her family as « deplorables, » a term Hillary Clinton once used – and apologized for – to characterize some Trump supporters.
« I think that he will make our country great again, » said Buchan.
Vendors who lined the hallway to the ballroom also featured Trump’s « Make America Great Again » slogan on T-shirts, mugs, hats and key chains. At other stands, ballgoers could buy Trump bobble-heads and chocolate. A silent auction even offered the opportunity to bid on a 4-foot tall painting of Trump.
Bobby Knight, former Indiana and Texas Tech basketball coach, pumped up the crowd in his keynote speech before introducing The Beach Boys to perform.
« Ladies and gentlemen, I promise you that in a Donald Trump administration, there will be no [expletive], » he said.
After Knight finished, Rep. Roger Williams , who also serves as the Texas State Society president asked, « Does he need to repeat that? »
Many in the crowd hoped Trump might make a surprise appearance. But although they didn’t get their wish, Donald Trump Jr. did arrive late in the evening.
The Texans didn’t let him leave empty-handed – he now has two Stetsons of his own.
