Dear Republican Women of California Point Loma,
First and foremost, I want to send a huge thank you to fellow member Carolyn Porter, who so generously donated her tickets and made it possible for me to attend the Inauguration of the 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump! It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am so grateful. While I wish I could share this update with you in person, I am in Washington, D.C., for
the confirmation hearing of Dr. Paul Lawrence as Deputy Secretary of the Department of
Veterans Affairs—a cause very near and dear to my heart.
Now, let’s get into the details of the trip!
I took the red-eye flight to Dulles on Thursday night, and from the moment I stepped onto the
gate, I knew this was going to be a special weekend. I swear, 90% of the flight was decked out
in MAGA gear and American flag or red, white, and blue apparel. The energy was so electric that I don’t think anyone actually slept—we were all too excited!
After getting settled Friday morning, I headed straight to Capitol Hill. The atmosphere was unlike
anything I had ever seen before. My first stop was the Capitol Hill Club (CHC), the unofficial
headquarters where Republicans meet to strategize, network, and—let’s be honest—talk shop
over cocktails. Even though I’ve been to the CHC many times, I saw faces I’d never seen
before, including Devin Nunes!
From there, I picked up my inauguration tickets from Congressman Scott Peters’ office and
attempted to take in the sights, but security was intense. Barricades, metal detectors, and
armed guards were stationed everywhere. It was then that I got the dreaded notification that the event would be moved indoors—meaning that instead of 250,000 people witnessing history, only
about 2,000 would fit inside the Rotunda. Heartbreaking, but I knew there had to be a reason.
I spent the rest of the day walking through the National Mall, which looked stunning, covered in
snow, and helicopters patrolled the skies nonstop. The Supreme Court was swarming with
reporters due to the TikTok ban hearing.
Fun fact: Even during a historic moment for the country, some people just really, really want to keep scrolling.
Saturday and Sunday were all about the inaugural celebrations. On Saturday, my friends and I
picked up their VIP tickets—graciously provided by Scott Turner, the newly appointed HUD
Secretary—giving them access to every major event in town.
As we walked through the city, we saw what could only be described as the elite of the
elite—big donors, political power players, and high-profile guests draped in furs and designer
suits, exuding the kind of old-school Washington glamour you only see at events like this. The
energy was electric, with people making their way to exclusive luncheons and pre-ball
gatherings, everyone buzzing about the historic weekend.
Sunday, we started at the Newsmax party, where Lee Greenwood kicked off the event with
“God Bless the USA” (chills!). I had the chance to meet Carl Higbie and Greta Van Susteren
before heading to the South Carolina Ball, where we danced the night away to a live Southern
band. One of the coolest moments of the night was seeing Trump’s official portrait at the
National Portrait Gallery—yes, we took plenty of pictures!
The real highlight, though, was our pedicab ride through the city. Since most of the Hill was
locked down for security reasons, we hopped in a tiny pedicab, bundled up in the freezing cold,
and rode through the streets while blasting Trump-themed and patriotic music. People were
waving, cheering, and singing along—it felt like our own personal parade! Honestly, 10/10
experience, would do again—just maybe with a heated blanket next time.
Now for the big moment: Inauguration Day. Since getting inside the Rotunda was a no-go, we
grabbed brunch and watched the ceremony indoors while snow flurries were going on outside.
The bar seating was full, so we set up a phone at our table and soon found other diners
gathering around to watch. When J.D. Vance was sworn in, the entire restaurant erupted in
cheers. When President Trump took the oath, the excitement was off the charts. And when they
showed Biden leaving the Capitol? Let’s just say a spontaneous “Let’s Go Brandon” chant broke
out.
I know some people are going to ask, “Why didn’t you go to the Capitol One Arena for the rally?
What about the parade?” Look, I love our president, but let me tell you—people were waiting in
line for hours. I talked to one person who got there at 7 AM and still didn’t get in. And then there
were people who camped out overnight in January. Absolute dedication, but I personally like my
fingers and toes unfrozen. Plus, I had so many other events planned already, and standing in
the freezing cold for an entire day just wasn’t on my bingo card for the weekend. No regrets!
Later that day, I spotted Vince Vaughn at a hotel bar—who knew he was MAGA? Then, I
attended a private event hosted by Musicians on Call with country singer Chris Janson (you
might know him from Buy Me a Boat). By the way, this organization would make a fantastic
guest speaker for our club in the future!
The event was incredible, filled with patriotic music, but getting out was another story. The
streets were still shut down, the Metro had stopped running, and I had to walk blocks to get
back. Thankfully, I wasn’t in heels or a gown this time!
The next morning, we had lunch with retired Navy SEAL and motivational speaker Jason
Redman, where we discussed the pressing issues facing veterans today. While there, I also ran
into Shawn Ryan—former Navy SEAL, CIA contractor, and host of The Shawn Ryan Show
(which I’m sure many of you are familiar with!).
I also bumped into Congressman Byron Donalds from Florida. I’ve met him before in San Diego,
but let me tell you—anyone from Florida right now is on the fast track to leadership. Word is, he
may be eyeing a run for governor once DeSantis terms out. Wishing him luck!
On my final day, I attended the CHC to watch the confirmation hearing for the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and even met Senate Majority Leader John Thune! Actually, leaving the CHC
we ran into Secretary Doug Collins fresh out of his Senate Confirmation hearing and congratulated him on a job well done! It’s great to see a veteran actually running the VA! If you couldn’t tell by now, veterans’ issues are incredibly personal to me—my husband, an Army veteran, has experienced firsthand the difficulties of navigating the VA system with ongoing health concerns. The past two years
have opened my eyes to how much reform is needed, and I feel deeply called to advocate for
our nation’s heroes.
Off the record, I heard from multiple sources that the inauguration was moved indoors
due to a serious and credible threat on President Trump. For this, I am ever so grateful that
he is alive and making America great again. In that moment, any disappointment about not
being able to attend the ceremony in person disappeared. The safety of our president is
paramount, and knowing he is still standing strong for our country fills me with hope and
determination.
To continue that work, that’s why I am headed back to D.C. this week to attend the Senate
confirmation hearing for Dr. Paul Lawrence as the next Deputy Secretary of the Department of
Veterans Affairs. I had the privilege of working with him during the Veterans for Trump 2024
effort, and I am eager to support his confirmation. While I wish I could be with you all in person
to share this update, I know that this work is vital, and I am honored to be part of it.
Thank you all for your support, and I look forward to catching up soon!
With gratitude,
Ashleigh Conaway
Thank you, lovely Ashleigh, for this wonderful walk-through feeling I have experienced while reading this amazing account of your Inauguration Journey!