WASHINGTON — On the eve of his scaled-down second inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to quickly close the southern border, deport millions of undocumented immigrants and sign a litany of other executive orders when he returns to power on Monday.

“At noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline and we begin a brand-new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” Trump told a crowd at Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The campaign-style rally marked not only Trump’s first of three major planned speeches over two days of inauguration festivities but also his first such speech in Washington since Jan. 6, 2021, when he spoke outside the White House before a mob of his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol.

Trump falsely maintained, both before and after the attack, that the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden was “rigged.” He referred to those claims once again Sunday, though he also correctly acknowledged his 2024 victory was the first time a Republican won the national popular vote in two decades.

“What a good feeling. We like winning, don’t we?” he said before rehashing his win three months ago.

While focusing on immigration policy to preview his plans, Trump mentioned Rachel Morin, the Harford County mother of five who was found dead in Bel Air in 2023.

After an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador was charged in her death last year, Trump and his allies repeatedly talked about Morin to attack President Joe Biden’s border policies. He did so again Sunday, months after also naming her in his speech at the Republican National Convention.

“With our actions tomorrow, my administration will deliver justice for every family whose loved one has been stolen from them by migrant crime,” Trump said.

Freezing temperatures in Monday’s forecast have pushed the official inauguration inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for the first time since President Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural in 1985.

Outside the arena Sunday, Trump supporters who traveled from all over the country to witness the inauguration on the National Mall instead waited for hours to attend the rally inside a roughly 20,000 max-capacity arena. Thousands were ultimately shut out after standing — some since before sunrise — in lines that wove around a cold and rainy downtown Washington.

“I got to tell you, everybody here, you ain’t got a snowball’s chance in hell getting in that auditorium. It’s already full right now,” a man with the stage name DJ Captain Love, who was dressed in Revolutionary War attire as he sang patriotic songs, told the crowd when it started to hail about 45 minutes before the rally was scheduled to begin.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” he said. “You’re all dressed up but no place to go!”

Undeterred, many remained in line — some draping themselves in Trump flags and many others bundled up in Trump-branded scarves and winter hats. Vendors were set up on nearly every corner while others sold combinations of ponchos and hats or socks and shot glasses in carts they rolled through the streets blocked off to traffic.

“Trump is back, baby,” said a man in a shirt showing Trump in a Christmas hat and reading, “It’s beginning to look a lot like I told you so.”

Dan Johnson, wearing a white cowboy hat with a Trump logo and American flag under the brim, said he got in line with his family at 7 a.m. Eight hours later, he said he was still excited even if they couldn’t get inside.

“It’s a joyous day,” said Johnson, who traveled from his home in Minnesota with his wife and 11-year-old and 13-year-old daughters. “If we don’t get there, I’ll be disappointed, obviously. But for the bigger picture, I’m excited for America.”

Johnson said he likes Trump’s plans for deregulation and his “straight-talking” leadership style.

For Johnny Rao, a Bronx native who traveled from Florida with his wife, it was a personal connection more than two decades old that brought him to his spot in the freezing rain.

Rao said he introduced himself to Trump when he saw him on the street in New York City after the 9/11 attacks.

“All he did was ask what he can do down here to help. So I figured he had a good heart and wanted to help America,” Rao said.

Inside the arena, a who’s who of famous Trump backers gave speeches for about two hours leading up to Trump’s arrival, from Megyn Kelly to Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.

Trump was scheduled to hold another in the same location after his scaled-down inauguration inside the U.S. Capitol on Monday.

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