Trump Inauguration SmarTrip Cards Launch Across DC

Ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has introduced a commemorative SmarTrip card featuring Trump's image and the number '47', signifying his upcoming presidency. Available at 15 Metrorail stations, the card is red, symbolizing the Republican Party, and has already sold out at some locations, including Metro Center. This tradition of issuing special inauguration-themed cards dates back to 1993, with past cards becoming valuable collector's items; for example, cards from Obama's first inauguration have sold for as much as $1,000 on eBay. WMATA noted that they did not produce a card for Biden's 2021 inauguration due to the pandemic. In addition to the cards, WMATA is implementing changes to fares and schedules in anticipation of the inauguration day events. The cards are rechargeable and can be used for regular transit fares, which range based on distance traveled.