Locals drive to DC, brave frigid temperatures to witness inauguration

Local Republican organizer Cliff Gephart was just one of the thousands of Americans who made the trip to D.C. Monday to watch President Trump get sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.

Cliff Gephart was outside of the United States Capital during the inauguration festivities.

Cliff Gephart was outside of the United States Capital during the inauguration festivities.

"It's just a day in history that I believe is a good thing for the country. And I want to say, hey, I was there the day when Trump took the country back in a direction I want it to go," Gephart said.

READ: Could Florida get snow? Winter storm warnings, watches issued for part of the state

Change of plans

The backstory:

He initially had tickets to be in the closest standing section to the president, but like many, lost out when the ceremony was moved inside the Capitol Rotunda.

"The day has been a little bit sporadic and a little bit different than what we expected when we kind of booked our trip to come here," Gephart said. "It's kind of a sad thing, because I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of people that bought plane tickets and hotels expecting to actually witness Donald Trump putting his hand on the Bible."

A crowd of supporters in Washington D.C during the inauguration of Donald Trump.

A crowd of supporters in Washington D.C during the inauguration of Donald Trump.

READ: Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of Cabinet

"And, of course, they canceled it," Gephart went on to say.

Comparing this inauguration to others

What they're saying:

Gephart and his group instead watched the ceremony live from a watch party a few blocks away. He says security this time around was much different than Trump's first inauguration in 2017.

Gephart's group viewing the inauguration from a bar in Washington, D.C.

Gephart's group watched the inauguration from a bar in Washington, D.C.

"They've pretty much moved all the blockades. They've opened up all the gates. So you're pretty much free to walk around wherever you want or walk around, too," Gephart said. "So it's a lot different feel than it was in 2017."

READ: How tall is the Trump family? Barron appears to tower over dad at Inauguration ceremony

Bradenton sends police

Dig deeper:

Bradenton police sent 15 officers to help with security around Capital One Arena, where Trump held a celebration with thousands of people in attendance. 

Image 1 of 2

Bradenton Police at the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Like Gephart, officers braved the frigid temperatures working a 12-hour shift. He says, despite the weather, the trip was well worth it.

READ: What executive orders Trump said he'd sign on Day 1

"There's always going to be people on both sides that don't agree at all with anything, but I hope we can become a little bit more united," Gephart said.

Both Gephart and the officers will return to the Bay Area on Tuesday morning.

The Source: The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Jordan Bowen during an interview with Cliff Gephart and information released by Bradenton Police Department.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:

PoliticsDonald J. TrumpBradentonTampa