WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Among the thousands of Americans lining up to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday is Misti Robinette, a former Democrat from Michigan who drove overnight to be there.
Robinette, whom NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin first met on his “Driving the Vote,” packed up her truck and drove eight hours from Detroit to Washington, D.C., with her friend Shannon.
A 25-year union worker at Ford, Robinette was a lifelong Democrat but voted for Trump in the 2024 election, citing the economy and inflation.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I get to go do it with one of my best friends. She used to be a Democrat, and now she changed too. It’s a big deal for both of us to go there and see him do what he does best,” Robinette said.
Although Robinette planned to watch the inauguration on the National Mall, she’s uncertain whether she’ll make it into Capital One Arena. Regardless of where she ends up, she says the experience is worth it.
“It means a lot,” an emotional Robinette said on Monday. “It means a lot for my work, for my kids, for my friends, for America. It means a lot.”