President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that his inauguration will be moved indoors due to dangerously cold temperatures expected in Washington, D.C.
“I have ordered that the Inaugural Address, along with prayers and other speeches, be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as Ronald Reagan did in 1985 due to extreme cold weather,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for live viewing of this historic event and to host the Presidential Parade. After my swearing-in, I will join the crowd at Capital One,” he added.
CNN reported earlier Friday that Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance would be sworn in inside the Rotunda, with discussions underway to hold some of the festivities at Capital One Arena, where Trump plans to host a rally on Sunday.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies confirmed it would honor the request to move the 60th inaugural ceremonies to the Capitol Rotunda. “The committee has contingency plans for all weather-related obstacles, but the challenge now is where to place the thousands who would have been outside and cannot all fit inside the Rotunda,” the statement read.
As a result, the vast majority of ticketed guests will no longer be able to attend in person. The committee urged ticket holders to watch from “indoor venues of their choice” and said it would designate specific viewing locations. However, those with tickets for the Presidential Platform and members of Congress will still be able to attend in person.
Security planning is also being adjusted. The Secret Service, DC and Capitol Police, and other agencies are working to reassess how moving the inauguration and parade indoors will affect security. Law enforcement sources told CNN that the agencies have just three days to revise plans that had taken months to develop. The inauguration had been designated a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security, triggering a high-level federal security response.
The inauguration had been expected to draw hundreds of thousands of guests and involve around 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel. As of Friday morning, over 30 miles of fencing was still being set up, intended to manage crowd flow for the now-canceled outdoor ceremony and parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Health and safety concerns have prompted the change in venue. Trump voiced concern for the safety of attendees and first responders in the extreme cold. “I don’t want to see anyone hurt or injured. It’s dangerous for the tens of thousands of law enforcement, first responders, police K9s, horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters who will be outside for many hours,” Trump posted. “If you decide to come, dress warmly!”
The last time an inauguration was held indoors was in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan was sworn in amid extreme cold, with temperatures dipping to 7°F and wind chills reaching -25°F. Reagan’s inaugural parade was canceled due to the conditions.
Temperatures on Inauguration Day this year are expected to be in the low 20s, well below normal, making it the coldest inauguration since Reagan’s second swearing-in. Winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, will make it feel even colder, with wind chills potentially dropping to the single digits by evening. Some rain and snow are expected to precede the event on Sunday, but Monday is forecast to be cold, windy, and dry.
Discover more from Tension News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.