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DC Metro SmarTrip Card for Trump Inauguration Has Zero Trump References

Metro / AP
December 21, 2016

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has released a commemorative access card for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration featuring zero references to Trump himself.

The new card design bears a striking difference from the special issue cards in both 2009 and 2013 which prominently featured President Obama. Trump's card has an America flag with an image of the White House and the words, "58th Presidential Inauguration Celebration January 20, 2017."

The cards are a special promotion that the system does for major special events. Special cards have been issued for Papal visits as well.

The cards issued for Obama's first inauguration in 2009 feature both his name and image. A similar format was used for the 2013 inauguration, but with the words, "America makes history again," added.

The transit system is expecting heavy use on inauguration day as well as the time near then. Over the past year alone, there have been several fires, flooding, a derailment, smoke-filled stations, major train malfunctions, and track segment shutdowns. The system is in the midst of a rebuilding process which has had mostly negative results and a decline in ridership and revenue.

WMATA sells the cards online so riders who are coming to the nation's capital for the inauguration do not have to wait in long lines. Parody cards have been designed by anti-Trump Washingtonians as well.