Crisis, he will have all elements of being Commander In Chief. Barbara starr, thank you so much and theres nothing more serious in terms of being the president than keeping this nation and its people safe. A reminder as the President Elect and Vice President elect go to the tomb of unknown of that solemn responsibility. Back to you, wolf. Thanks. Were standing by at the blair house, official guest house for visitors of the president across the street from the white house. Youre looking at live pictures momentarily the President Elect and his family will be leaving the blair house, well have live pictures, to head over to Arlington National cemetery, well have coverage of that, we have a really good panel to assess what we have heard today, and david gregory, we have heard what almost five hours of testimony from the secretary of
that. Hes held up pretty well. Do you agree . I think democrats who are hoping to score political points is that for most of these its really a tail of two nominees, a he said, she said so either Steve Mnuchin is a guy who raided businesses and got people when they were vulnerable or a guy that stepped up during a financial crisis, rebuilt them and helped them thrive. Thats a heroic version and which version will we end up with at the end of the hearing . And we are going to see the first inauguration event. This will be somber in contrast to the concert at the Lincoln Memorial, this wreath laying
peaceful transfer of power. Its really one of the first time where the President Elect, it really starts to dawn on him that he is going to become the president. That hes becoming Commander In Chief of our armed forces. That has got to be an awesome moment for anyone. And as he thinks about all the enthusiasm for him but no doubt a humbling moment. Tim, our cnn president ial historian, we saw a little bit of that at fort andrews, but now this will be more formal. One thing that we have seen wolf with President Elect who have not had Military Service or have not been associated with military, the military, its very important for them early on to establish a connection. President elect obama for example, also paid a visit to
arlington during the day before the election before the inauguration. Its very important to send a signal that they understand the seriousness of being Commander In Chief. Its not a matter of spectacle or performance. Its a matter of lives and security. Its extremely important and i would say a good choice on the part of President Elect trump that he and the Vice President elect are going to arlington today. But this is something thats traditional. All incoming president s make an appearance, is that right . Some have not. Some have not. It was very important for President Elect obama not only go to arlington but to visit with the wounded warriors, to send the signal that he was a War President , that he was succeeding another War President. Everyone should be watching the symbolism in the next two days, not only is power passing but in
a sense the personification of the american presidency is changing and donald trump will change it but theres much that he cannot change. Its tradition. The President Elect, the Vice President elect but for the respective families as well, theyll be included. Yes, as tim said, theres so much symbolism in the first two days especially the first lady, were all waiting to see what kind of role shes going to play and how hes going to use her position as the emotional tenor of the emotional side of the white house. You also get to see your first look at the first children and the children have already been posting a number of photos over the last couple of days as they have said goodbye to their lives in new york as well. We have seen ivanka posting a photo with children in toe and donald trump posted a picture of
him and his wife and i think its having theyre really appreciating what they are getting to witness. I think the family is getting ready to leave the blair house right near lafayette park. Well see some live pictures coming in from blair house. Its a pretty quick drive across the Potomac River over to Arlington National cemetery. Dana, this is a moment i suspect the President Elect is really looking forward to the actual beginning of the formal Inauguration Events . Oh, no question about it. Looking forward to it, i would imagine as any human would has trepidation, because donald trump started this out on a lark and look at where he is, about
to be the 45th president of the United States. Just the awesome weight of having there you go. Hes in the doorway there now at the blair house. Across the street from the white house. So hes going to be getting in the car at the white house as jake said across the street from the white house and is going to be making his way to Arlington National cemetery. Something certainly that donald trump ever thought for certainly the first several decades of his life as a real estate magnet an then a Reality Tv Star that he would actually be doing, dont you think jake . I agree. And the weight of the office has a way of changing a person. Many former president s have talked about the moment when they really realize when it really hits them how much responsibility they have. Often times its after they win and have that First Security briefing as the President Elect and really hear about everything going on all the threats to the
nation. 99 of which most of us never know or hear about, the Security Apparatus of this country has silent successes that we dont hear about. It was eight years ago and we didnt learn about this until much later that the national Security Apparatus was really worried about the threat to the obama inaugural in 2009 and hopefully we dont know anything about that going on now, but the office has a way of changing people. Theres a reason why president s in eight years age about 30 years. And their hair gets quite gray. I dont think thats going to happen this time. The gray hair. Who knows. Who knows. Were off the map here. Its a whole new era. The President Elect getting ready to leave the blair house an staying overnight for the
official guests, he will be staying in the white house and will be president of the United States tomorrow with his family. The white house clearly, a lot more impressive. David gregory, you have often taken that drive from here he comes out. The president , Melania Trump walking out. He looks pretty happy and deeply appreciative of the symbolism of whats about to happen, hes going to go to the arlington ceremony to lay a wreath to the tomb of the unknown. And hes going to come to where you are to the Lincoln Memorial, this concert thats been put together is going to be a couple of hours and i take it at the end of the hour thePresident Elect will speak. Yes, we are told he will speak. The Great America great again welcome celebration has been somewhat controversial in the entertainment community. I dont think i am schooled to say that, toby keith, Lee Greenwood will be performing as well as the piano guys, and told john voit will be here as well, The Hollywood Actor not the dentist. And of course the headliner is actually President Elect donald trump who will address the crowd which is starting to gather here and were at the Lincoln Memorial and will extend to the washington monument. And we have talked to people from colorado, florida, certainly vips who get the good
seating up there, but there are clearly those who were Trump Supporters and voters who came to be part of this historic event. And just confirmed that Woody Johnson the New York Jets owner, and will be elected to be the ambassador to the united kingdom, so one thats been honored in a distinct way perhaps following in to footsteps of dan rooney who obama named to be ambassador to ireland. We saw Michael Flynn the threestar retired general the president s National Security adviser also walk down those stairs at the blair house getting ready for this event. Michael flynn head of the intelligence agency, barbara starr, you have some thoughts on what were about to see . Wolf, as we discussed we are seeing all the elements of being Commander In Chief beginning to assemble around mr. Trump. As they were walking down the steps of the blair house there was a young man in a Military Uniform, he had a rope on his shoulder like this, and its usually a signal in a Military Uniform that that person might be a Military Aide to the President Elect. Im not sure we have seen that yet. Perhaps another sign of Military Protocol being extended to mr. Trump and the beginning of what we have been talking about here, all the elements, the very somber elements of being Commander In Chief beginning to assemble around the President Elect. As we said the plane he came to washington on, and very much where he is going now. Just steps from where we will be at the tomb of the unknown, hundreds if not more troops who
have fallen in recent wars especially afghanistan and iraq have been laid to rest. Arlington is perhaps the highly visited memorial to visit in washington d. C. , millions of people have visited President Kennedys burial site just steps of where mr. Trump will be. And the tomb of the unknown where he will lay a wreath that is so representative of so many president s. It is nearly 100 years old an dates back to world war i. The military refers to the unknown as those known only to god because years ago they didnt have dna people fell on the battlefield, could never be identified and never be returned to their loved ones. Its one of the most somber moments in Military Protocol and
one of the things we know is that before that wreath is laid Military Personnel will brief mr. Trump and mr. Pence on Military Protocol and make sure everything goes smoothly for both of them, wolf. Their families, their friends are driving through the streets of washington, they will cross the Potomac River to Arlington National cemetery, we are standing by for the First Official inaugural event. He is now in washington. Well take a quick break and be right back. Motorcade arriving over at the Lincoln Memorial excuse me, at the Arlington National cemetery, going to the Lincoln Memorial after that for the make America Great again celebration. But this much more somber. Dedicated to the u. S. Military Service Members at the tomb of the unknown buried without being identified. This is history unfolding right now. In only a matter of hours, tomorrow, donald trump is going to be the 45th president of the United States and as we pointed out he wont be staying at the blair house across the street, hell be in the white house. I think its important for everyone watching around the world to keep in mind the american presidency is very
unusual, it combines three things, head of chief, head of state, Commander In Chief and we are going to be able to watch today and tomorrow how donald trump in his serious moments how hes handling those three huge responsibilities, going to arlington is his first major act. Not yet president as the future Commander In Chief. Its a major moment. Watch how he acts. Look at his facial expressions. Look at his stature, his poise. Hes going to be doing this a number of times, again and again, but the first time sets precedence. Theres nothing more important than being Commander In Chief, because that commander
in chief will have the lives at stake for so many military personal and the National Security will be in his hands. When people talk about who is ready to be president . Actually only president s are ready to be president. Theres no deputy job that prepares you for it. Being vice Precedevice Precedene same. If we want to know why people age in this job, in this very dangerous world, thats the reason. Take a look at President Obama eight years ago, four years ago and today. President obama wanted to get the symbolism of the military just right an convey the respect and honor. He famously practiced the salute
privately so he can get it just right today, i dont know if donald trump will salute or not but thats one of the gestures and elements of Commander In Chief. When he landed and walked off the u. S. Military plane and as of tomorrow at noon hell be flaying on Air Force One which is clearly the mark of the presidency, so he has to get ready. Its remarkable and humbling, you fly in Air Force One, you realize what a big deal that is, wolf, you have covered president s, i dont know anyone who is so taken back of realizing what it is to have all that power vested in you and comes at a time while donald
trump is a wartime president , some troops committed in afghanistan and iraq, but rethinking what americas role should be in the world and harkened back to a preworld war ii time, this was a senate that never ratified the treaty that was ston ch against it, hes going to be looking at a very difficult threat for america at the time. Hes already receiving these military briefings. Hes got to obey certain Military Protocols as the President Elect at this event at the ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknowns. Thats right. Things become much more serious,
his words have greater Imp Implicatio implications. This year has been really crazy for those of us who cover and follow politics and there have been a lot of unprecedented things that in the old days might have been not done, but this is time to get back to some of the pomp and circumstances, here is a guy who tweets but yet is going to be observing the tra digs and protocol today, i think its very special and a time to come together. You spent a lot of time studying the families and new responsibilities theyre going to have, not only the spouse but the kids, the grand kids as well. Yes, its interesting because its been reported obviously that ivanka is going to have an office in the east wing which traditionally is the first ladys office but today and tomorrow on this stage taking
these first steps in this very traditional ceremony, i think it was oleg cassini who designed for mrs. Kennedy. Its really one of the largest families ive seen on this stage i think. All the kids an grandchildren are there and the incoming first lady, emily, shes wearing sunglasses which is not unusual even though its not all that sunny here in washington but shes got an enormous amount of responsibility as well. It is unusual shes not going to be moving here right away, she wants their son, baron to finish the semester. Baron will be at School Bright and early monday morning
just like any other kid in new york city. Its very interesting whats going to happen with the first family, you saw her moving to d. C. , jared will serve in the white house, but the two eldest sons will remain taking care of the trump organization. Im excite today sd to see what first look will look like. There are first lays that have not enjoyed being in washington. Margaret truman was a very important helper to president truman, so the fact that the first lady likes to be somewhere other than washington, thats not news. Whats going to be interesting is the fact of what is clear is that the President Elect, soon to be President Trump has enormous respect for his childrens advice. Thats whats really di