Watch CBS News

Lawmakers react to Trump's inauguration with criticism, optimism

Congress reacts
Democrats dig in as outsider party after Donald Trump's inauguration 02:04

WASHINGTON -- More than 60 Democratic members of Congress boycotted Donald Trump’s inauguration, but at the stroke of noon, even those who didn’t attend found themselves out in the cold. 

cordes-hill-reax-transfer-frame-363.png
Rep. Elijah Cummings CBS News

A minority party in the House and Senate, Democrats are now shunted out of the White House, too. 

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings told CBS News’ Nancy Cordes “I was hoping he would say more to bring the country together.” 

Other Democrats described the speech as a “dark portrait of America, crime ridden and weak.” 

Not all Republican lawmakers agreed with Trump’s speech, either, with Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry calling it “clearly” isolationist. 

Fortenberry told Cordes that the party may not agree with its new leader on everything, but there’s enough common ground to keep them busy. 

Watch the video above for more on Capitol Hill’s reaction.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.