A University of Sunderland student has headed home to New York for the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States (US).
Philip Ward, is currently in his hometown of Buffalo ready to watch Donald Trump being sworn in as the new elected leader of the US.
The 21-year-old Republican is a firm supporter of Donald Trump.
“I think he will make a good president,” he said.
“He’s a Republican, he’s not a political Washington insider, he’s tough on immigration, he knows how to get the country out of debt, he’s keeping jobs in the US, he speaks to all the American people in a way that the entire country can relate to and if he can keep the promises that he made to the American people, then he has the potential to be the best president the country has ever seen.”
The journalism student added: “[The country] is very divided at the moment. It’s going to be a very Conservative, tight Government which is what I think the country needs to be honest.
“I think people are going to give him a shot for the sake of the country and basically that’s what our democracy is all about – [the] peaceful passing of power, because yes, we’re Democrats, yes we’re Republicans, yes we’re Independents but at the end of the day we’re all United States citizens.
“It’s best to support Donald Trump now even if you are a Democrat to further the country along.”
Despite support for the soon-to-be president, there have been talks of protests at the ceremony in Washington DC and here in the North East.
A ‘No to Trump!’ protest has been set up to begin at 5.30pm at Greys Monument in Newcastle.
The inauguration begins at 12 noon in the United States and 5pm GMT.