The White House released its first official response to the women's marches yesterday after Press Secretary Sean Spicer ignored shouted questions about the matter on Saturday, NBC News reported.

The statement from a Trump administration official said it was a "shame" that the March for Life next Friday "will not get anywhere near the same amount of coverage that this march got—and those pro-life members were NOT welcome at the Women’s March."

"The organizers noted that their platform is pro-choice and they revoked partnership status’ from pro-life groups," the statement continued.

The White House also called out Madonna, one of many celebrities to speak at marches across the country, for telling crowds that she had "thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House."

The White House statement does not include the rest of Madonna's comment, which continued: "But I know that this won't change anything. We cannot fall into despair." Instead, Madonna called for a "revolution of love."

"Comments like [Madonna's] are absolutely unacceptable and had they been said about President Obama, the mainstream media would be in an uproar," the statement continued. "The Trump administration welcomes a robust discussion regarding the critical issues facing America’s women and families."

Hundreds of thousands of women and men poured into the nation's capital Saturday for a march aimed at showing Donald Trump they won't be silent over the next four years.

The Washington, D.C., event was the largest of more than 600 "sister marches" planned across the country and around the world. Organizers estimated 3 million people would march worldwide, and city centers across the U.S. were flooded with people in rallies that lasted for hours.

The marchers brandished signs with messages such as "Women won't back down" and "Less fear more love" and decried Trump's stand on such issues as abortion, health care, diversity and climate change.

The rallies were a peaceful counterpoint to the window-smashing unrest that unfolded on Friday when self-described anarchists tried to disrupt the inauguration. Police used pepper spray and stun grenades against demonstrators. More than 200 people were arrested. 

But the Women's March on Washington didn't yield a single arrest, according to D.C. Homeland Security Director Christopher Geldart.

While the march organizers' "mission and vision" statement never mentions Trump and stresses broad themes, including the message that "women's rights are human rights," the unifying factor among those turning out appeared to be a loathing for the new president and dismay that so much of the country voted for him.

The White House's full statement is below:

It's a shame that the March for Life, which estimates the same number of marchers in DC (650,000 in 2013) and will be happening next Friday, will not get anywhere near the same amount of coverage that this march got — and those pro-life members were NOT welcome at the Women’s March. The organizers noted that their platform is pro-choice and they revoked partnership status’ from pro-life groups.

Madonna, who was one of the celebrities headlining the march, was quoted saying “Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House” — comments like these are absolutely unacceptable and had they been said about President Obama, the mainstream media would be in an uproar.

The Trump administration welcomes a robust discussion regarding the critical issues facing America’s women and families.

A spokesperson for George H.W. Bush said the health of the former president and former first lady Barbara Bush is improving.

In a statement, Jim McGrath said the President will remain in the Intensive Care Unit of Houston Methodist Hospital for a few more days. However, he no longer requires mechanical assistance for breathing.

"His spirits are high, and he is looking forward to getting back to a regular schedule.  In fact, he called his office last night at 6:30 p.m. to check on his staff," said the statement from McGrath.

Even better news for former First Lady Barbara Bush. She may be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

The two became hospitalized earlier this week, missing the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

Philadelphia Police have arrested a 25-year old homeless man accused of attacking a transgender woman while yelling homophobic slurs in Center City, Philadelphia.

Police observed the man standing in the Frankford Terminal Sunday morning wearing the same clothing from the incident caught on camera. He was arrested and will be charged for the assault.

Ryannah Quigley, 23, of Seattle, Washington, told NBC10 she was attending the Creating Change conference in Philadelphia. She said she was walking along the 1300 block of Filbert Street at 4:40 p.m. Friday with two of her friends when an unidentified man began staring at her. She greeted the man, but he continued to stare at her.

"I said, 'Is there a reason why you're staring at me up and down?' And he stopped and turned and looked and he said, 'Whatever bro.' So that's when I said, 'Please don't call me bro,'" Quigley told NBC10.

Quigley said the man then started shouting at her and yelling homophobic slurs.

"He started screaming," Quigley said. "He just kept telling me, 'You're a f----t,' and 'You're going to hell.' Then he kept saying, 'You'll never be a real woman.'"

Quigley told NBC10 she then took out her phone and began recording the encounter on Facebook Live. That’s when she says the man threw a bag of food at her and then punched her in the face before running away. Quigley's friend Keyonna Fowler witnessed the incident.

"The slurs were very horrible," Fowler said. "Just because a trans woman speaks to you does not mean that she wants you."

Quigley said she suffered cuts and a bruise but is doing okay. She contacted Philadelphia Police who are currently investigating. Quigley told NBC10 she’s been the victim of violence before and was jumped by a group of people a few years ago.

"Often times we are not believed," Quigley said. "We are often looked at as the problem. Because as trans women people assume that, 'Oh, you must have been hitting on him.'"

Quigley said she posted the video on Facebook Live but it was later taken down by Facebook administrators who claimed it violated their terms of service. Quigley also claimed she was blocked from accessing her Facebook account. Her friends and supporters have posted on her page updating everyone on her recovery.

"Transgender individuals, they are people," Quigley said. "They are living and they will continue to be here."

Philadelphia Police ask anyone with information about the attack to call 215-686-3047 or submit a tip to the police department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS.

Metrorail set a record, carrying the second most number of trips in its history on the day of the Women’s March in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017.

Metro said 1,001,613 entries were recorded into the rail system. News4’s Adam Tuss said the busiest Metrorail day was Jan. 20, 2009, the first inauguration of President Barack Obama, where 1.12 million trips were taken.

“We can all feel proud of providing safe, reliable service for large numbers of riders over two consecutive days on a world stage,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul Wiedefeld. “This success is especially impressive given the monumental challenge of sustaining such an operation over back-to-back days, along with the logistical challenges that come from national special security events.”

Tuss reported Saturday was only the second time Metrorail has surpassed 900,000 trips.

Metro said over the two days of the presidential inauguration and Women‘s March, trains, buses, and paratransit served over 2 million passenger trips. Metrorail trains provided 1.6 million trips over the two days.

Roughly 600,000 Metrorail trips were recorded on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Donald Trump, said the White House press secretary gave "alternative facts" when he inaccurately described the inauguration crowd as "the largest ever" during his first appearance before the press this weekend, NBC News reported.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer gathered the press to deliver a five-minute statement Saturday in which he issued multiple falsehoods, declaring erroneously the number of people who used the D.C. metro on Friday, that there was a change in security measures this year and that "this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe."

However, crowd size experts told the New York Times they estimated Trump's audience at fewer than 200,000 people, and widely distributed side-by-side photographs showed the stark contrast between the comparatively sparse crowd for Trump's inauguration and the record-setting crowd for Obama's first.

The next system in a series of storms will make its way into San Diego Sunday, bringing heavy rain, possible thunderstorms, snow and a chance for flooding. 

On Sunday and into Monday, the rain will roll in once again as the third in this series of winter storms hits San Diego County. NBC 7 meteorologist Jodi Kodesh said Monday's storm should be the wettest of all, given how saturated the ground will be from the two prior storms. Check NBC 7’s forecast here.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), weather warnings are in effect for San Diego County. 

Parts of San Diego County are under a flash flood watch from 10 a.m. Sunday through Monday evening. Areas of the San Diego County coast, mountains, deserts and cities could see flooding as the storm moves in. Areas include Oceanside, Vista, Chula Vista, National City, San Diego, El Cajon, San Marcos, La Mesa, Santee, Poway, Julian, Encitinas and Borrego Springs. 

A winter storm warning is in effect for the San Diego County mountains, including Julian and Pine Valley. The areas will likely see two to six inches of snow at altitudes between 4,000 and 5,000 feet. Peaks above 5,000 feet altitude will likely see six to 12 inches of snow. 

Those traveling through these areas will want to be careful when driving, as visibility will be near zero at times, according to NWS. 

At San Diego’s beaches, a high surf warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday. The NWS says surf is expected to subside Sunday through Tuesday – 6 to 9 feet – with sets to 12 feet. High tide, at 4.8 feet, will be on Sunday at 5:20 a.m.; 5.1 feet at 5:59 a.m. Monday; 5.4 feet at 6:34 a.m. Tuesday.

The NWS says the high surf could lead to coastal flooding and beach erosion, as well as strong rip currents and dangerous swimming conditions.

Strong winds continue into Monday. The County is under a wind advisory from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday; gusts in areas like Borrego Springs, Banning and Desert Hot Springs should reach 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts at 50 miles per hour. The strong winds will be in the County mountains. 

The NWS cautions that the winds will make driving especially difficult and advise the use of extra caution. 

NBC 7’s Kimi Evans said conditions are expected to be much drier by Tuesday and Wednesday.

Make sure to download NBC 7’s free news app. Weather alerts, like flood advisories warnings are issued through the app. There is also a local, interactive radar.

President Trump will attend a White House senior staff swearing-in ceremony Sunday afternoon.

A woman rescued after a long search in the rough water off Sunset Cliffs has died, San Diego Lifeguards told NBC 7 San Diego Sunday. 

The two women were swept off the rocks at Santa Cruz Avenue and Bacon Street - near San Diego's iconic Sunset Cliffs - Saturday evening just after 5 p.m. 

A witness - who later saved one of the women - said the women were taking photos of the view along Ambrosioni. In a matter of seconds, he said, "they went out right over there, right off the edge." 

A man, who lifeguards are calling a hero, jumped in and saved one woman. 

When he tried to go back and save the second, the woman had been taken by the current. 

“I ran back and forth and when she got close enough and I went out and I picked her up," he said. The man wanted only to be identified as Struble.

One woman was taken to hospital, but the second woman continued to get lost in the foam.

“I tried to go back for the second one, but I couldn’t get there in time because the waves just got too big and she got too far out,” the Good Samaritan said. 

Lifeguards searched through thick ocean foam for nearly 40 minutes looking for the woman who was swept off shore. 

Lieutenant Rick Romero explained it was difficult to spot the second woman caught in the current.

“We did see her, but in the amount of the time, the surge was coming in and out she’d appear and then disappear in the foam,” said Lt. Romero.

Lifeguards said the water was 58 degrees with waves up to 15 feet high. On top, the ocean water had two feet of foam. 

The woman, who has not been identified, was pulled out of the water unconscious Saturday evening. She was taken to the hospital and later succumbed to her injuries, lifeguards said. 

During the incident, two lifeguards were also taken to a hospital, as a precautionary measure. 

White nationalist Richard Spencer was punched in the face during an on-camera interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation News not far from President Trump's inauguration, NBC News reported.

Donald Trump traveled to CIA headquarters Saturday to offer reassurance to the workforce after he spent weeks criticizing American intelligence, but his unscripted, self-referential remarks before a wall of stars memorializing fallen officers are drawing criticism, including a pointed denunciation from the agency's recently departed director, NBC News reported.

"Former CIA Director Brennan is deeply saddened and angered at Donald Trump's despicable display of self-aggrandizement in front of CIA's Memorial Wall of Agency heroes," Nick Shapiro, a former aide to John Brennan at CIA, told NBC News' Andrea Mitchell.

Brennan, Shapiro said, believes Trump "should be ashamed of himself."

One person is in custody, and medics are treating multiple people following a shooting at a mall in San Antonio, Texas, a San Antonio Fire Department spokesperson confirmed.

Police responded to a shots fired call around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesperson. The spokesperson confirmed that people were injured in the shooting, but the exact number of victims and nature of their injuries was not immediately known.

Video from WOAI-TV shows multiple police cars, ambulances and law enforcement outside of a Dillard's department store.

A person inside the mall who spoke to WOAI-TV said he heard six shots.

The Rolling Oaks Mall is located along Loop 1604 on the northeast side of San Antonio.

Check back for more on this developing story. 

Some residents may be trapped after a tree toppled onto an apartment building in National City, officials said. 

The incident happened at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the National City Parks Apartments on the 300 block of E 24th Street, police and fire officials said. 

Eleven adults and six kids have been displaced. 

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

For the third weekend in a row, protests along the U.S.-Mexico border have shut down the San Ysidro Port of Entry. 

The following freeways are impacted:

• Eastbound State Route 905 to Southbound Interstate 805 is closed
• Southbound I-5 is closed at State Route 905, and traffic is being diverted
• Southbound I-805 at SR-905 is closed, and all traffic is being diverted
• Southbound I-5 from SR-905 is shut down. 

The border crossing coming out of Mexico is open, Caltrans says. Authorities recommend using the Otay Mesa border crossing. 

Across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, protesters continue to voice their objections to a sudden hike in gas prices in Mexico: 20 percent in one day.

For the past two weekends, the San Ysidro port of entry has closed briefly in the southbound direction due to protesters.

No further details were available. 

Here’s a look at what’s going on in San Diego sports for the week of January 23^rd-29^th.

GULLS: No hockey in San Diego this week. The Gulls are in Tucson for a three game set against the Roadrunners. They play Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

USMNT: Sunday the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team faces Serbia in a friendly at Qualcomm Station. Match starts at 1 p.m.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY AZTECS:

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tuesday at Air Force and Saturday vs. Colorado State 3 p.m. at Viejas Arena.

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Wednesday vs. Air Force 6:30 p.m. at Viejas Arena and Saturday at Colorado State.

-WOMEN’S TRACK: Friday and Saturday at the UW Invitational in Seattle.

-WOMEN’S SWIMMING: Friday and Saturday at the Air Force Diving Invitational in Colorado Springs.

-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. Cal State Fullerton 10 p.m. at the Aztec Tennis Center and Sunday at UC Irvine.

-WOMEN’S WATER POLO: Saturday at Arizona State and vs. Wagner in Tempe, Arizona.

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO TOREROS:

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday vs. Gonzaga 6 p.m. and Saturday vs. Portland 2 p.m. both at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Thursday at Gonzaga 6 p.m. and Saturday at Portland 7 p.m.

-MEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech 10 a.m. and Sunday vs. USC or East Tennessee St. TBA both in Los Angeles.

-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Saturday vs. UC San Diego 11 a.m. (exhibition) and Sunday vs. Cal State Fullerton 11 a.m.

-WOMEN’S SWIMMING: Saturday at UC San Diego TBA.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO TRITONS:

-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Wednesday at Cal State Fullerton 1:30 p.m. (exhibition) and Saturday vs. University of San Diego 11 a.m. (exhibition).

-BASEBALL: Wednesday vs. San Diego Christian 6 p.m. (exhibition).

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Friday at Stanislaus State 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at Chico State 5:30 p.m.

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Friday at Stanislaus State 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at Chico State 7:30 p.m.

-WOMEN’S TENNIS: Saturday at USD (exhibition) 11 a.m.

-SWIMMING: Saturday vs. USD (W) 12 p.m. at UCSD.

-MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Saturday vs. Hope International 7 p.m. at UCSD.

POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS:

-WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Saturday vs. Academy of Art 2 p.m.

-MEN’S BASKETBALL: Saturday vs. Academy of Art 4 p.m.

Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Donald Trump, said Sunday the president would not be releasing his tax returns, reversing months of repeated campaign-trail promises to do so after an audit is completed, NBC News reported.

The comments were a response to a Whitehouse.gov petition with more than 200,000 signatures calling on Trump to release his tax returns.

Conway also added that Trump's returns are irrelevant. "They voted for him, and let me make this very clear: Most Americans are very focused on what their tax returns will look like while President Trump is in office, not what his look like," Conway said in an interview on ABC's "This Week."

Conway's statements are false — multiple polls showed a majority of Americans believe Trump should release his tax returns, including an ABC News/Washington Post survey out last week that found three-fourths of Americans believe he should release them.

San Diego police are searching for a suspect who robbed a US Bank in Point Loma Heights at gunpoint Sunday afternoon.

The man, in his 30s, walked up to the teller, displayed a gun and received an undisclosed amount of money. He was last seen leaving on foot northbound through the parking lot.

He is described as 6 foot, 170 pounds, unshaven, wearing a red beanie, sunglasses, a dark hoodie and black shorts.

The robbery happened around 12:14 p.m. in the 3600 block of Midway Drive.

Robbery detectives are investigating.

Barring a major last-minute and unforeseen obstacle, Major League Soccer is coming to San Diego ... and it could be the catalyst for the National Football League to return, as well.

Sources tell NBC 7 San Diego that a San Diego-based investment group led by FS Investors founder Mike Stone and former Qualcomm Vice Chairman Steve Altman has put together a proposal to purchase the Mission Valley land where Qualcomm Stadium currently sits and turn it in to a sports and entertainment center with a new stadium as the lynchpin.

A formal presentation will be made on Monday morning in La Jolla.

The facility would be used by an MLS expansion team and the San Diego State Aztecs football program. The plan is to develop the area around the stadium in to an area not unlike the extremely popular Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown San Diego with restaurants, live entertainment and shopping.

Unlike the proposals set forth by the Chargers, this construction project would be 100% privately financed. Stone and Altman have assembled a team that would take care of the build while purchasing the land from the City of San Diego at "fair market value."

The proposal would also set aside land for the possible construction of an NFL-caliber stadium in case the league decides to return to San Diego, as well as the opportunity to build out and expand the San Diego River Park with transit-oriented, mixed-use development to activate the River Park and stadium uses.

By the end of 2018, MLS will have 23 franchises and expects international soccer star David Beckham to have a franchise in Miami soon after that, running the total to 24.

Major League Soccer wants to eventually reach 28 teams. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has long looked at San Diego, which is regarded as the 9th-best soccer market in America, as an expansion destination. Now that the Chargers are vacating America’s Finest City the time for adding another pro soccer team to Southern California could be now.

“We have spent a lot of time down there,” said Garber after the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. “There is a very good group that’s come together. We know the investor prospects well. I’ve been there quietly probably two or three times. I’ll be down there for the [US national team] game. I think it would be a great MLS city."

It is important to note, an announcement on MLS expansion is not expected until later in 2017 and a team would likely start playing in San Diego (if it's chosen) for several more years.

That U.S. Men’s National team game against Serbia will be played at Qualcomm Stadium on January 29. Garber and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer have already spoken about the possibility of MLS expansion.

The possibility of building a new facility in Mission Valley is something San Diego sports fans have heard about for a long time now. The average capacity of a MLS stadium is 30,022, with the largest being 55,000-seat Bobby Dodd Stadium (scheduled to open this year as the home of the Atlanta United FC) and the smallest the 18,000-seat Avaya Stadium (San Jose Earthquakes).

In San Diego there are several interesting possibilities for the stadium. The parcel of land in Mission Valley is large enough to hold a giant stadium but MLS has shied away from the mega-complexes favored by the National Football League, opting for a smaller, more intimate and energetic setting.

Partnering with San Diego State (who has a lease to play football at Qualcomm Stadium through the 2018 season) would require a slightly larger facility. The Aztecs, now a Top-25 program, averaged 37,289 fans at home games this season.

Assuming a jump in interest in the Aztecs with the Chargers being gone a facility of about 40,000 seats would be good for SDSU and large enough to host future matches for the U.S. National Teams, as well as international powerhouses like Manchester United and Real Madrid when they make trips through the United States.

So how much is that going to cost? Not as much as the former local football owners would have you believe.

Dan Meis … the architect who designed Staples Center in Los Angeles, Safeco Field in Seattle and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia … told NBC 7 that MEIS architects are helping build “state of the art stadiums for under $7,000 a seat.” On a 40,000 seat facility that means a price tag of $280 million.

Now, builds of this magnitude almost never stay right on budget but that $280 million number is certainly in the ballpark (pun intended). It appears that Major League Soccer and a brand new stadium (or two) will be landing in San Diego in the near future.

The most powerful storm in a series of three pummeled into San Diego Sunday evening, leaving behind toppled trees, flooded streets, damaged cars and lots of debris. 

In Mira Mesa, a 50-foot tree came toppling down onto two cars on the 9500 block of Carroll Canyon Road. 

Miles away, in University City, a large tree fell on five cars, destroying the vehicles, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said. The 7900 block of Camino Huerta has been shut down as crews work, and no one was injured. 

Seventeen residents were displaced in National City when a 45-foot Eucalutpus tree uprooted and started leaning heavily on an apartment building. 

San Diego Police warned that heavy rain and uprooted trees closed multiple roads, including:

• 7474 Charmant Dr. (tree)
• 10818 San Diego Mission Road (flooding)
• Airoso Ave. at Dartford Way (tree)
• 2318 Upas Street (tree)
• Avenida Del Rio at Riverwalk (flooding)
• Fashion Valley Road at Riverwalk Dr. (flooding)
• La Media at Airway (flooding)
• 2000 Saturn Blvd. (flooding)
• 5600 Carroll Canyon Road (debris)
• Reedley Tr. at Sword Way (tree)
• Texas Street at Upas Street (tree)

United Airlines grounded all domestic flights across the country due to a computer issue Sunday evening, a government source confirmed to NBC News.

The airline issued a nationwide ground stop that will remain in effect until 8 p.m., the source said.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

For President Trump, the inauguration should have been his Super Bowl – the kind of spectacle everybody talks about at work all day Monday and beyond.

But for once Trump, the self-styled showman who upended media and politics to become chief executive, got upstaged. The Women's March on Saturday, a day after the inauguration, gave the world a far bigger and better show. 

The event packed all the elements of a yuge spectacular: epic scale (a cast of hundreds of thousands spread across the globe); family drama (emotional moments shared by multiple generations); humor (creative signs and chants, the cleverest of which can't be repeated here); colorful costumes (most prominently those pink hats); celebrities (Scarlett Johansson, among many others); songs (Alicia Keys sang “Girl on Fire”); and high stakes (the future of women's rights).

It marked a by turns defiant, raucous and joyful display of force by masses angry about Trump's taped vulgar comments declaring his carte blanche to accost women and fearful of life under his leadership.

As comedian Aziz Ansari put it on "Saturday Night Live," a program Trump went from hosting to regularly decrying: “Yesterday, Trump was inaugurated. Today, an entire gender protested against him. Wow."

The New York Times reported three times as many people participated in the main march in Washington than attended Trump's inauguration. The rookie president, though, wasn't only behind in the in-person audience category. In another sense, the marchers, all performers of a sort for the day, outnumbered him on the world stage.

That seemed to unnerve the now officially powerful Trump, who vastly exaggerated inauguration attendance Saturday and scapegoated journalists for using photographic evidence to show Obama attracted a far larger crowd to the National Mall eight years ago. Meanwhile, Trump’s spokesman, Sean Spicer, made the demonstrably erroneous claim that his boss commanded the "largest audience ever to witness an inauguration – period – both in person and around the globe."

On Sunday morning, Trump tweeted that his inauguration ratings were bigger than President Obama’s 2013 numbers (true, though Trump’s viewership tally landed well below that of Obama’s history-making 2009 festivities). The new president said he watched march coverage and suggested something that he could not possibly know: that the protesters hadn’t cast ballots: “Why didn't these people vote?”

He later posted a tweet that most would recognize as presidential: “Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

Still, the overall tone Trump set in his first weekend as star of the biggest reality show of them all echoed his attention-at-all-costs campaigning style.

The point of Trump's sore-winner act remains unclear. The inauguration, despite a lack of major performers (Toby Keith, Sam Moore and the Rockettes were among the bigger names), offered some memorable moments.

The limited dancing prowess Trump exhibited while shuffling to "My Way" with his wife, Melania, actually helped humanize him. The stylish new first lady showed signs of becoming a fashion leader (unlike his counselor, Kellyanne Conway, whose Paddington Bear-like outfit inspired mocking memes).

Some folks, on both sides of the political aisle, likely found something comforting and elegant in the pageantry and tradition surrounding the peaceful transfer of power, even amid Trump's speech, with its jarring "American carnage" declaration.

His strong words, like his attempts to steal back the show from the marchers (and just perhaps deflect attention from the major challenges facing his administration), defy presidential precedent.

But it's not unprecedented behavior for Trump.

After Arnold Schwarzenegger debuted Jan. 2 as the new ringmaster of "Celebrity Apprentice," then-President-Elect Trump taunted his successor via Twitter.

"Wow, the ratings are in and Arnold Schwarzenegger got 'swamped' (or destroyed) by comparison to the ratings machine, DJT," read tweet, written in the third-person with Trump referring to himself by his initials.

This weekend, President Donald J. Trump got swamped, if not in the ratings, then in the race for notice that appears to drive him. The throngs from around the world who marched grabbed the spotlight and beat him at his own game.

Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.