James Mullarkey and Breann Stipetic of Mahoning County were in Washington D.C. for the swearing-in of President Donald Trump during the 2025 Inauguration.

Mullarkey said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"To see it first hand, the transition of power between, you know, one former president to a new one," He said, "It's something special. It goes to show you that America is a living, breathing presence whether you like Donald Trump or not, his policies mark a new renewal for the country and it's good to see our tradition play out in America."

Mullarkey, from Youngstown, and Stipetic, from Canfield, watched the inauguration and parade from Capital One Arena, where Trump made an appearance. 

"They spoke about the Dr. Martin Luther King [Jr.] speech, and I thought that was very powerful to bring that up with, in our country at this time, uniting everybody," Stipetic said, "Donald Trump did a good job of uniting the country in that way."

Meanwhile, folks in Mercer County gathered in the Brandy Springs Community Center for a watch party. 

The cold didn't stop the group from joining together and said they're interested to see new policies and a new chapter unfold.

"Seeing him come down the aisle again and accepting his position as president, that's my favorite part," Cesar Chacon of Hermitage said. 

"He has a great plan for us to go forward," Wendy Walton of Mercer County said, "and he's very definite in his ideas, and I think he'll put them into place."