When President Donald Trump was sworn in for his return to office Monday for a second term, it was a historic moment for the country — and a relatively muted one for much of Colorado’s highest profile politicians.
Some Colorado Democrats were uncharacteristically silent on the event and what Trump said from the U.S. Capitol.
Here’s a roundup of notable public comments by Colorado officials:
Gov. Jared Polis, who attended the inauguration as the chair of the National Governor’s Association, reiterated a weekend statement in an X post Monday: “The relationship between states and the federal government is critical to getting things done and delivering for Americans, and I look forward to making sure that the voice of the Governors and the states is heard in Washington D.C.”
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, the Republican congresswoman for eastern Colorado in the 4th Congressional District, tweeted “Daddy’s home!!” paired with Time Magazine’s recent cover illustration showing Trump back at the desk in the Oval Office. In a follow-up statement, she said Trump’s inauguration “marks the start of a new, magnificent era for America.”
“Coloradans should know that President Trump and Vice President Vance will put their interests first and I am thrilled to work with them to enact an agenda that prioritizes the 4th District’s needs,” she wrote. “We will unleash our oil & gas producers to make America energy dominant, secure our Southern border to protect our families from crime and fentanyl, and get our ranchers, farmers, and Colorado’s agriculture community the support they need to continue feeding families across our state and country.”
U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat who represents the 7th Congressional District in the center of the state, quoted former President Joe Biden in her own X post: “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
“While this is far from what we wanted to see, I will still try to work with the new administration when possible,” she wrote. “However, I am also ready for the fight ahead to protect our freedoms, our democracy, and increase opportunity for working people.”
U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, the Republican newly elected to the Colorado Springs-centered 5th Congressional District, posted a photo from the Capitol and added, “Let’s make America great again!” Fellow Republican newcomer U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, from northern Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, also posted a photo from the ceremony and said he was “so honored to be a part of a historic day for our country.”
Colorado’s third newly elected Republican, U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd of the Western Slope, wrote: “It was an honor to be a part of the peaceful transfer of power and to celebrate our Constitution and American democracy. Congratulations to (Trump). I am eager to work together and deliver for (the 3rd District). Republicans are ready to get to work!”
In a statement published on his website, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow — who represents Aurora — called on Trump to work with Democrats to address the cost of housing, food and gas.
“Donald Trump won the election and is our new President,” he wrote. “… I have always made it my priority to get results for Coloradans. With President Trump taking office, I will work to find common ground with President Trump to meet our country’s challenges. I’ll also not be afraid to continue speaking up on issues that matter most to Colorado.”
In a post on X, the Colorado Democratic Party wrote that Trump’s victory “was not the result that many of us worked for, and this is going to be a difficult day for many as we watch Donald Trump and his cabinet of billionaires prepare to take our country backward.”
“The many challenges facing Colorado, our country, and the world call for leadership that can rise to the moment, bridge our divides, and work toward the betterment of all,” the party wrote. “That said, we all know Trump’s track record from his first time, what he campaigned for, and we have the receipts to show how unlikely it is that regular working people will benefit from his presidency. If this is anything like last time, the rich will get richer while the rest of us struggle to get by.”
As of 2:30 p.m., the Colorado Republican Party and neither of Colorado’s U.S. senators, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, had appeared to make any public remarks about the inauguration.
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