Inauguration preparation underway for Trump in D.C.

Dan Ashley Image
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Inauguration preparation underway for Trump in D.C.
In just two days Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th Commander-in-Chief. As he puts the finishing touches on his speech, four of his cabinet nominees appeared before congress.

WASHINGTON (KGO) -- In just two days Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th Commander-in-Chief. As he puts the finishing touches on his speech, four of his cabinet nominees appeared before congress.

LIST: Democrats who are skipping Trump's inauguration

All eyes are on Tom Price, the nominee to lead the Department of health and Human Services. Four of President-elect Trump's cabinet picks took part in heated exchanges before the Senate on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

Price, a vocal opponent of Obamacare, was grilled on his replacement plan. "There has been a lot to talk about individuals losing health coverage," he said. "But that is not our goal, nor our desire, nor our plan."

Price was also pressed on accusations of insider trading. Democrats are calling for a SEC investigation of a $15,000 stock purchase Price made last March. Days later, he introduced legislation that benefitted that company. He insisted that he had no access to nonpublic information when accused of acting on a stock tip.

President-elect Trump's nominee to lead the EPA, Scott Pruitt, is also in the hot seat. Senator Bernie Sanders tried to nail down how much Pruitt believes human activity contributes to climate change.

"So you are applying for a job as an administrator for the EPA, to protect our environment, an overwhelming majority of scientists say we have got to act boldly," said Sanders. "And you're telling me that there needs to be more debate on the issue?"

"No, senator, as I've indicated, the climate is changing," Pruitt replied.

Meanwhile, D.C. is making the final preparations for his inauguration.

The President-elect posted this picture on Instagram and Twitter, with what he says is a draft of his Inaugural Address. The photo was taken three weeks ago at his Mar-a-lago Estate in Florida.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence tells ABC's Martha Raddatz that President-elect Trump is a man with a big heart. "I think what the American people are going to see in the President-elect is the kind of results that will bring the country together."

The incumbent's press secretary Sean Spicer says the President'elect has been practicing the 20-minute inauguration speech, writing it with guidance from senior staff.

Click here for all of our stories, photos and video of Donald Trump

Many democrats say they will be boycotting that speech. The number who say they won't be attending has grown to 60. That includes several Bay Area representatives.

President-elect Donald Trump will officially take office Jan. 20 at an inauguration ceremony at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. you can watch the event on ABC7 News, with live reports from Dan Ashley.