President Trump Orders Standing Ovation for Hillary and Bill Clinton at Luncheon and Finally Gets Them to Smile After Couple Glumly Sits Through Swearing-in and Hear Chants From the Crowd of ‘Lock Her Up’

‘I’d like you to stand up’: President Trump asked the audience at the luncheon to give the Clintons a standing ovation

Donald Trump extended an olive branch to Hillary Clinton on Friday afternoon in the form of a 30-second standing ovation for his political nemesis after a luncheon with members of Congress.

And at long last, she offered a broad smile.

Trump’s moment of generosity came after Clinton, the Democratic Party’s unsuccessful White House candidate, braved an inauguration ceremony that she had expected would mark the beginning of her own presidency.

She and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, sat through that ceremony stone-faced, betraying little of the regret and disappointment that comes along with losing the world’s most consequential election.

Adding insult to injury, a pocket of Trump supporters in the crowd chanted ‘Lock her up!’ when the Clintons were introduced.

‘I was very honored’: Trump thanked both Bill and Hillary Clinton for coming to the swearing-in

Thanks: Hillary Clinton gestured to the President and to the rest of the attendees at the luncheon as they clapped

Praying: Bill and Hillary Clinton prayed with the President-elect as he and the First Lady were honored at the Capitol with a luncheon

Smiling at last: The difference in the Clintons’ mood was clear as they left the Capitol

Smiling at last: The difference in the Clintons’ mood was clear as they left the Capitol

First standing ovation: This was the scene as the Trumps arrived for the luncheon at the Capitol

President Donald Trump is seen gripping the hand of his rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, who attended today’s inauguration as a former first lady

Hillary Clinton and President Donald Trump meet face-to-face at the inaugural luncheon inside the U.S. Capitol Building today

President Donald Trump embraces ex-President Bill Clinton as first lady Melania Trump greets Hillary Clinton, her husband’s general election rival

I looks…: Hillary Clinton made no attempt to smile as Donald Trump waited to be sworn in

Watching the swearing in: Hillary Clinton was in her seat as Donald Trump stood to take the oath of office which she had wanted to

Fixed stare: Hillary Clinton remained frozen-faced as the 45th president was sworn in by Chief Justice Roberts

Unsmiling: Mike Pence reached across to shake hands with Hillary Clinton as he made his way from the podium

Hand of greeting: President Obama reached across to greet Hillary Clinton with a handshake

Working the line: President Obama reaches across to shake hands with the woman who will not succeed him

A fixed grin for the victor: Hillary Clinton watches as Donald Trump walks past her then kisses his wife Melania before being sworn in as 45th president

Sending an email: Hillary Clinton used her smart phone as she waited for the swearing in

Keep your grin fixed: Hillary Clinton was careful not to let her expression slip was the president-elect – in his final moments before becoming president – went past her

Glum and glummer: The Clintons walk through the Capitol towards their seats on the podium to watch Donald Trump’s arrival

Downcast: The Clintons were grim faced as they stood on the platform

Warp up dear: Bill Clinton helped his wife put on a poncho as the rain began just after President Trump was sworn in

Getting ready for the rain: The former First Lady reached for a see-through poncho as the ran began to fall

Getting ready for the rain: The former First Lady reached for a see-through poncho as the ran began to fall

Watching history: Hillary was situated between her husband Bill and successor George W. Bush to watch the swearing-in

This was her moment: Hillary Clinton’s expression told the story as Donald Trump arrived on the podium and was greeted by President Barack Obama. Minutes later, he became Presidenrt Trump

Could have been mine: Bill and Hillary Clinton stood hand in hand,their faces betraying their feelings about the ceremony

Greeting: Hillary did not embrace Michelle Obama, her successor as First Lady

The eyes have it: George W. Bush seems amused as Michelle Obama is greeted by Hillary Clinton

Fixed stare: Hillary Clinton walked through the Capitol looking ahead to the stage where she expected she would be standing

Cheerier Bill: The former president was more relaxed than his wife as he walked to the podium

Should have been me: Hillary Clinton wore a white coat over a white pantsuit for the Inauguration and was accompanied by her husband Bill. All the living presidents except George H.W. Bush are present

Holding on carefully: Hillary Clinton grasped the handrail as she walked down the stair to the riser on the west portico of the capital

That slogan, which made its debut at the Republican National Convention, later became an unavoidable anti-Clinton campaign battle cry.

Trump seemed to erase it all with a gesture that was beamed around the world.

‘I was very honored – very, very honored – when I heard that President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton was coming here today,’ Trump told lawmakers packed into Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol.

‘And I think it’s appropriate to say. And I’d like you to stand up. I’d like you to stand up.’

Trump kept the sustained applause going by clapping enthusiastically himself.

‘And honestly,’ he added, ‘there’s nothing more I can say, because I have a lot of respect for those two people.’

The president had already shaken Mrs. Clinton’s hand at the start of the traditional lunch event as they came face-to-face.

That moment closed a chapter in American political history that saw Clinton’s aspirations swamped by Trump’s populist victory.

Bill Clinton remained glum during the noontime inaugural swearing-in. Hillary looked glummer, telling a wordless story of how she felt.

Some Democrats, including many in Congress, questioned the Clintons’ decision to attend, saying it tended to validate President Trump at the very moment their party aims to ostracize him.

Trump had it both ways in less than 24 hours, mocking Clinton during a dinner speech before figuratively embracing her.

Following a Thursday night candlelight dinner inside Washington’s Union Station, he jabbed at the Clinton campaign for planning a fireworks display in New York City when they thought they had the presidency locked up.

Ultimately, Team Clinton canceled its fireworks permit as Election Day closed in.

‘They spent $7 million on fireworks. And they canceled it – and that’s because history has proven that if you’re going to lose, you don’t want fireworks, right?’ Trump joked.

Grip and grin: Bill held Hillary by the left elbow as the Clintons walked out of the Capitol and into the open

Long walk: Bill and Hillary went along the same route as they would have expected to walk if she was becoming 45th – and second Clinton – president

Relax: George W. Bush seemed to be breaking the tension as he made a thumbs up prompting the Clintons to finally laugh

Fixed grin: Hillary managed a smile for those she was passing as she made her way to her seat

Good to see you: One friend apparently raised Clinton’s spirits as she entered the podium

It could have been: Hillary Clinton’s expression made clear her thoughts about the place on the podium she found herself at

Breaking the tension: George W. Bush was all smiles on the podium – unlike Hillary Clinton

At last, a wave: Hillary perked up as the former first couple waited for the inauguration to begin. Dick Cheney. George W. Bush’s vice-president, was behind them with his wife Lynne

White House memories: Hillary Clinton exchanged words with George W. Bush as they stood together waiting for Trump

‘And that was a good sign.’

Hillary showed up in a white pantsuit and coat, alongside Bill and their daughter Chelsea, for an appearance she never thought she would make without hearing ‘Hail to the Chief’ played in her honor.

And she used Twitter to issue a veiled to rebuke to those who boycotted it – saying: ‘I’m here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values. I will never stop believing in our country & its future.’

Clinton won points from a former adversary for bucking up for the occasion.

‘I think it takes a lot to show up in that situation after the kind of campaign that was run against her,’ said Tad Devine, a top adviser to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who challenged Clinton in the Democratic primaries.

Devine said Clinton’s attendance ‘is [a] testament to her strength of character. I really think she should be praised.’

Trump famously castigated Mrs. Clinton repeatedly as ‘Crooked Hillary,’ interrupting her during debates and projecting a generally belligerent attitude as he unseated the would-be first female president.

On Friday afternoon he also praised the military men he recruited to join his cabinet, including retired Gen. James ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis – and hinted that Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer would warm to him.

‘Those generals are going to keep us so safe,’ Trump said.

‘They’re going to have a lot of problems, the other side. They’re going to look at a couple of them. This is central casting. If I’m doing a movie, I’d pick you, general.’

Trump pointed to Mattis and declared that he is ‘doing really well. Even – even Chuck likes General Mattis, and General Kelly.’

‘We’re going to have four great years, hopefully, of peace and prosperity,’ the new president told the lawmakers. ‘And we’ll be working very, very hard.’

And we’re all dealing together. We all want the same thing. We’re all good people,’ he added.

‘Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, doesn’t make any difference. We’re going to get along.’

SOURCE: Daily Mail, David Martosko and Nikki Schwab