Trump Moves Inauguration Circus Indoors, Citing Freezing Weather

Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday will be held indoors due to cold temperatures, Trump announced Friday. The temperature in Washington, D.C., is forecasted to be in the low 20s with the wind chill dipping into single digits. Trump will be sworn in inside the Capitol Rotunda instead of on the front steps of the building his supporters attacked four years ago.

“The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows. There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!),” he wrote, adding that Ronald Reagan used the Rotunda in 1985 due to cold temperatures.

The temperature at Reagan’s second inauguration was just 7 degrees, and the parade was canceled. Monday is predicted to be the coldest inauguration since that day. “The health and safety of those attending and working at these outdoor events must come before any celebrations,” Reagan said at the time. 

Obama’s 2009 inauguration was cold as well, with temperatures of 28 degrees and wind chills. An estimated 1.8 million attended the inauguration. After Trump’s 2017 inauguration, photos went viral comparing the crowd sizes of the two inaugurations — an estimated 300,000 to 600,000 people attended Trump’s, when the temperature was in the 40s with some rain. 

Trump wrote on Truth Social that a live viewing party will take place inside the Capital One Arena, as will the presidential parade, and that he will head there after he is sworn in. The venue’s capacity is a little over 20,000. 

The change has been confirmed: “The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will honor the request of the President-elect and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies inside the U.S. Capitol to the Rotunda,” a spokesperson said.