• Politics
  • White House

President Trump’s Inauguration Crowd Doesn’t Look Like Barack Obama’s Did in 2009

2 minute read
A composite image shows the inauguration crows for Barack Obama in 2009, left, and Donald Trump in 2017.
A composite image shows the inauguration crows for Barack Obama in 2009, left, and Donald Trump in 2017.Emily Barnes—Getty Images; Lucas Jackson—Reuters
By Eliana Dockterman

A side-by-side comparison of the crowds at former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump‘s respective inaugurations reveals that Trump’s crowd isn’t as large as he boasted it would be.

Two aerial photographs of the National Mall from the two historic days reveal large patches of white ground exposed during Trump’s ceremony, spaces crowds had filled during Obama’s 2009 inauguration. The pictures were taken around the same time during the day, Trump’s at 11:04 a.m. and Obama’s at 11:30 a.m.

Federal and local agencies estimated 700,000 to 900,000 people would be in Washington, D.C. for Trump’s inauguration on Friday, roughly half the number of people who attended Obama’s first presidential inauguration. Obama’s second inauguration also drew more people, approximately 1 million. However, the media will not know exactly how many people attended Trump’s inauguration until a final count is released in a few weeks.

Still, the pictures stand in stark contrast to Trump’s assurances to the New York Times that his inauguration would draw an “unbelievable, perhaps record-setting turnout.” The images quickly went viral on social media with “The Mall” trending on Twitter.

See Photos From Every Presidential Inauguration LIFE Magazine Ever Covered

FDR Inauguration 1937
A view of the inauguration ceremony of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937.Thomas D. McAvoy—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
FDR Inauguration 1941
Third inauguration ceremony of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941.Thomas D. McAvoy—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
FDR Inauguration 1945
Fourth inauguration ceremony of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945.George Skadding—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Truman Inauguration 1949
Harry S. Truman riding with Vice President Alben Barkley during the Presidential Inauguration parade, 1949.George Skadding—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Eisenhower Inauguration 1953
Eisenhower Inaugural, 1953.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Eisenhower Inauguration 1957
President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the first lady, riding in a car during the Inaugural ceremonies. 1957.Paul Schutzer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
JFK Inauguration 1961
President John Kennedy and wife Jacqueline during the Inauguration Day Parade, 1961.Leonard McCombe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Johnson Inauguration 1965
Lyndon Johnson giving the inaugural address at his inauguration. First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson is seated to his right, 1965.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Nixon Inauguration 1969
President Richard M. Nixon's inauguration, 1969.Henry Groskinsky—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

More Must-Reads from TIME

Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com