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Bannon calls Trump’s speech ‘Jacksonian’
Trump at the U.S. Capitol. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

New White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon on Friday afternoon said President Trump’s inaugural speech had echoes of another long-ago American populist.

“It was an unvarnished declaration of the basic principles of his populist and kind of nationalist movement. It was given, I think, in a very powerful way. I don’t think we’ve had a speech like that since Andrew Jackson came to the White House,” Bannon said in an interview with The Washington Post. “But you could see it was very Jacksonian. It’s got a deep, deep root of patriotism there.”

He also said it offered a contrasting view to the one articulated earlier this week by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who defended globalization at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“I think it’d be good if people compare Xi’s speech at Davos and President Trump’s speech in his inaugural,” Bannon said. “You’ll see two different world views.”

Trump’s aides have said the new president plans to immediately start trying to undo many of former President Baarack Obama’s policies through executive orders.

“There will be stuff every day,” Bannon said.

Live coverage of Trump’s inauguration
The U.S. Capitol frames the backdrop over the stage during a rehearsal of President-elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony this week in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Donald Trump will be sworn in Friday during an inauguration that’s expected to draw between 700,000 and 900,000 people. Security officials said there are 63 demonstration groups, pro and con, also expected Friday. Follow our liveblog for updates through this afternoon’s inaugural parade.

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