Story highlights
It's clear both Trump's inauguration and Saturday's women march attracted many people
Trump talked about crowd size during an appearance at the CIA Saturday
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to add context.
(CNN) —
It’s going to be impossible to gauge how many people exactly attended the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017 as opposed to Barack Obama in 2009.
It’s also going to be impossible to gauge how many people exactly attended Trump’s inauguration as opposed to the Women’s March Saturday organized as a direct rebuttal to Trump the previous day.
RELATED: Get full coverage of the transition to Trump and of the Women’s March
But there’s going to be a lot of conjecture about it. Trump himself talked about his massive crowds during an appearance at the Armed Services Ball Friday night.
It’s clear that both events attracted many people. Below are pictures from 12:15 p.m. ET on each day from the EarthCam website.
PHOTO: Earthcam
A screengrab of EarthCam's live feed of the National Mall during Trump's inauguration ceremony.
PHOTO: Earthcam
A screengrab of the EarthCam feed from the National Mall before the Women's March
Trump talked about crowd size during an appearance at the CIA Saturday and argued the size of his crowds had been misrepresented.
“We had a massive field of people,” he told the US intelligence agency. “You saw that. Packed. I get up this morning, I turn on one of the networks, and they show an empty field. I’m like, wait a minute. I made a speech. I looked out, the field was, it looked like a million, million and a half people. They showed a field where there were practically nobody standing there. And they said, Donald Trump did not draw well,” the President said.
“It looked honestly like a million and a half people, whatever it was, it was, but it went all the way back to the Washington Monument and I turn on, by mistake, I get this network, and it showed an empty field. Said we drew 250,000 people. Now, that’s not bad. But it’s a lie. We had 250,000 people,” he said.
It wasn’t clear which outlet Trump was referring to. CNN has not reported a specific size to the crowd since there has been no official estimate.
Trump took the oath of office just before noon Friday and then gave his inaugural address. A rally associated with the march was slated for between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Some differences to note: Trump’s speech was on the West Front of the Capitol, which was at capacity on Friday. It was cordoned off and empty on Saturday as protesters gathered on the Mall.
On the other hand, the Women’s March filled the streets around the mall. Those streets were closed to Trump supporters.
His inauguration was on Jan. 20, because of the Constitution, which this year occurred on a Friday. The Women’s March was on Saturday, when more people are off work.
Metro, Washington’s subway system, tweeted Saturday there were 275,000 trips taken Saturday by 11 a.m.
On Friday, there were 193,000 trips by 11 a.m., according to Metro.
Another important point: Both events are occurring in an area opposed to Trump. Washington, D.C. voted overwhelmingly against Trump last November. He got just 4.1% of the vote in the nation’s capital. He also lost the surrounding states of Maryland by 25 percentage points and Virginia by nearly 5 percentage points. It would be a longer trip for a critical mass of Trump supporters than for a critical mass of marchers.
It should also be noted that marchers took to the streets in other cities, nationwide, and in cities around the world.
Related: An incredibly high-resolution, interactive image of Trump’s inauguration
Related: Comparing Trump’s inauguration crowd to Obama’s
“Sister marches” also took place in Chicago:
PHOTO: John Gress/Getty Images
Protesters cheer at the Women's March in Chicago, Illinois.
And New York:
PHOTO: Susan Watts/New York Daily News/Getty Images
Thousands of participants converge on Dag Hammarskjold Plaza and 2nd Avenue during the Women's March in New York City.
And in Boston:
Here are some of the best pictures from American cities:
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Mark Kauzlarich for CNN
A large crowd walks down Pennsylvania Avenue after the start of the Women's March on Washington on Saturday, January 21, 2017. Organizers said the march is sending a message to Donald Trump that "women's rights are human rights." Similar protests unfolded across the country.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Mario Tama/Getty Images
A woman chants at the Women's March on Washington.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Gabriella Demczuk for CNN
Women with cat hats walk past the Capitol.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Gabriella Demczuk for CNN
Demonstrators at the Women's March rally toward the White House on the National Mall.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Gabriella Demczuk for CNN
Demonstrators take a break from marching at the National Gallery of Art.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters gather on the National Mall near the US Capitol.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Protesters gather near the US Capitol.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
John Minchillo/AP
Lily Donahue of Wappingers Falls, New York, center, is among the thousands with signs protesting violence against women.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
The pink "pussyhat" with cat ears became the symbol the the Woman's March on Washington as a reference to President Donald Trump's remarks about grabbing women by their genitalia during the election.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Madonna performs during the Women's March on Washington, Saturday, January 21, 2017 in Washington.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Teresa Kroeger/FilmMagic/Getty Images
The march evolved from a post-election call to action on Facebook to an organized effort that included high-wattage activists and attendees.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
A woman wears a pink hat to send a message during the protest.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Eric Thayer/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Demonstrators wearing pink hats gather during the Women's March on Washington in Washington, DC, on Saturday, January 21, 2017.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
Singer Alicia Keys performs on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the Women's March on January 21, 2017.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Demonstrators arrive at Washington's Union Station for the march.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Ginny Suss, Carmen Perez, Gloria Steinem, Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory and Mia Ives-Rublee appear onstage during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrators protest on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the Women's March on January 21, 2017.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Sait Serkan Gurbuz/AP
Ginger Naglee of Olney, Maryland, gets into the spirit on Independence Avenue.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
John Minchillo/AP
Women gather on a barricade on the National Mall.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
John Minchillo/AP
A man dressed as Abraham Lincoln stands with protesters.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Protesters take a selfie on the grounds of the US Capitol.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrators protest on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the Women's March on January 21, 2017.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
John Minchillo/AP
Girls hold anti-Trump signs during the march.
Photos: Women's March on Washington
PHOTO:
Sait Serkan Gurbuz/AP
New Yorker Nicole Monceaux joins in the march.
