Local organization hosts inaugural watch party

It was a historical day, as the 45th President Donald Trump was sworn into office.

Watch parties took place around Idaho, including in Bonneville County, at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Over 40 people at the inn watched in awe as President Trump took oath.

What everyone there had in common was hope.

Precinct committeeman Paul Ahlstrom was one of the people who attended the watch party.

“I have a lot of great expectations. A lot of wounds that need to be healed. We need to move ahead and get things done,” Ahlstrom said.

Ahlstrom said he understands the tough job that lies ahead for President Trump.

“A president can’t do it on his own. It requires help from the bottom. We have to put away our selfish wants and desires and work for the best of the country,” he said.

Ahlstrom insisted that the number one priority is to balance the budget.

“None of us can live this way. We have to get things in order, we have to strengthen our defense, we have to shore up our borders,” he said.

Stephanie Mickelsen is the president of the Bonneville County Republican Women’s Club.

“I hope that he’ll remember that this country has religious freedoms, and that we need to continue to protect those religious freedoms for all people,” Mickelsen said.

As a business owner and as an American, Mickelson explained that she was looking forward to a pendulum to the other direction. She also believes budgeting is important.

“I also hope that the regulation and the regulatory stuff that was occurring under the Obama Administration will be lifted, that we will make our country into something that our grandchildren can inherit without inheriting all the debt and problems that we currently have,” Mickelsen said.

She wants people to understand that it is important to move forward and to give President Trump a chance.

“I think that we have to remember, as we have gone through a very nasty election season, that when we come to an inauguration, that it’s time to put our backing behind a new president, that we need to move forward, allow him a chance and the opportunity to prove whether or not he can do the job and give him the opportunity to make the most of the opportunity he’s been given,” she said.

Paul Ahlstrom also added his thoughts about the current state of our country.

“America’s a great country. It’s always been great, and we can make it even better; at home and abroad,” Ahlstrom said.