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Jesse Cantu of Euless drove the 35 miles to Denton on Friday and wiggled his way into a packed room full of elation.

As his wife, Beverly, sat down with the coffee carrier they bought for the masses, Cantu shook several hands, smiled widely and looked guests at the Denton County Republican Party headquarters straight in the eyes to greet them with one wholehearted epithet.

Unfortunately, we couldnt celebrate locally, Cantu said. But Im glad to be amongst my fellow deplorables.

The Denton County GOP hosted a watch party for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. On Friday at the party headquarters, a large number of local figures and guests from surrounding counties beamed for what they reckon to be a bright American future.

Watching the proceedings on TV, attendees cheered at the Trumps and jeered at outgoing President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Amens answered Trumps promises, and many chanted Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in unison during the inaugural invocation.

During her unsuccessful campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called some Trump supporters deplorables. Cantu said the new president will bring people together.

Trump is a uniter. I truly believe he says what he means when he says hell be a president for all people, whether youre black, white, brown and all in between, Cantu said. Those who say they dont support him just dont know it yet.

Cantu called Friday a new day for America, likening the approaching presidential term to those of Ronald Reagan. Cantu confidently predicted a resurgence of Reagans trickle-down prosperity, a stark change from the trickle-down poverty he dubbed the Obama administration.

Event organizer Lyn Yeargan took the watch party as an opportunity for Denton County Republicans to welcome those down the road and set an example for the countys GOP support.

The room nearly overflowed with Trump supporters as Republican groups in many surrounding counties didnt host inauguration celebrations.

Were thrilled. Its really neat to have so many people from Grayson County, Cooke County and Tarrant County, Yeargan said. We want to be the best host for those who took time out of their days to celebrate with us so they feel at home.

In contrast, the Denton County Democratic Party held no events Friday, and party Chairwoman Phyllis Wolper said she didnt watch the inauguration.

Our country has survived all of these years with all kinds of different leadership, some of which were magnificent with what they brought to the table. Others, history has shown to be very negative. This is no different, she said.

Wolper said she was looking forward to todays womens rally at the Courthouse on the Square, where she and fellow party members will be registering people to vote and informing the public on various ways to become politically involved.

We will go forth. As a nation, there are certain things that may or may not happen with this [administration] that we will not agree with, Wolper said. But we will pray for our country and do what we can to make our part of the country as we wish it to be.

Mark Roy, the commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 1300 in Denton, spent Friday morning at the GOP watch party.

He was originally disdainful of Trump during his campaign. But he said the presidential candidate earned his respect when Trump skipped the last Republican debate before the March primary to raise $6 million for veteran charities.

Roy works with 22Kill, a Dallas nonprofit focused on veteran suicide awareness that was given $200,000 from Trumps fundraising.

Trumps decision to opt out of the debate, a move many pundits predicted would end Trumps campaign, invigorated Roy and his colleagues. Moreover, Trumps commitment to repeal the Affordable Care Act when Roy hasnt paid more for health insurance in years further bolstered his growing support of the Trump administration.

Trumps inauguration speech Friday underscored the presidents straightforwardness, Roy said, and the likelihood of all the promises hes made coming into fruition.

If he does half of what he said in his speech, were all going to be great off, Roy said.

MATT PAYNE can be reached at 940-566-6845 and via Twitter at @MattePaper.

MATT PAYNE can be reached at 940-566-6845 and via Twitter at @MattePaper.

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Republicans rejoice at local GOP gathering - Denton Record Chronicle