Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony for his second term as US president, scheduled for Monday, will take place indoors due to an Arctic blast forecast to bring dangerously cold weather to Washington, D.C. The shift disrupts plans for a grand outdoor event on the Capitol steps overlooking the National Mall.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump explained the decision: “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the country. Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda.”
The Rotunda, an iconic space beneath the Capitol dome, accommodates only a few hundred guests, a far cry from the traditional outdoor crowds that gather for presidential inaugurations. Trump encouraged supporters to watch the ceremony via a live feed at Washington’s Capital One Arena, where he also plans to appear after the swearing-in.
This marks the first time since Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration that weather has forced the event indoors. Washington is bracing for below-freezing temperatures and strong winds on Monday, making outdoor gatherings unsafe.
Preparations for an outdoor ceremony, including thousands of chairs arranged on the National Mall, had been underway for weeks. Instead, Trump’s supporters will now witness the event through screens or in the warmth of the arena, which seats about 20,000 people.
Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 sparked a heated debate about crowd sizes, with claims of record-breaking attendance disproven by aerial photographs comparing the event to Barack Obama’s 2009 ceremony. This year, the indoor setting eliminates the possibility of a similar controversy, though it limits the spectacle of addressing a sea of supporters beneath the Washington Monument.
Security remains tight, with over 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel stationed across Washington. Metal barriers have been erected around key sites, including the White House and the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Historical parallels are being drawn to William Henry Harrison’s 1841 inauguration, where bitter cold and a desire to project strength led to a tragic outcome. At 78, Trump becomes the oldest individual to assume the presidency, surpassing Harrison’s record as the oldest at 68.
