President-elect Donald Trump announced on Friday that his inauguration ceremony would be relocated indoors because of dangerously cold temperatures predicted for Washington, D.C. on Monday, January 20, 2025.
The event will now take place in the US Capitol Rotunda, a decision reminiscent of Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration, which was also moved indoors due to severe weather conditions.
“I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also revealed plans to accommodate the public in a separate venue. “We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade. I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In,” he added.
Reports earlier in the day suggested that Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance would take their oaths of office in the Rotunda. Discussions were also underway to move portions of the celebration to Capital One Arena, where Trump is scheduled to hold a rally on Sunday.
In a statement, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies confirmed Trump’s request to relocate the event. “The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will honour the request of the President-elect and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies inside the US Capitol to the Rotunda,” the committee said.
The move indoors poses logistical challenges, especially for accommodating the thousands of ticketed guests who were originally expected to attend the outdoor ceremony. The committee stated in a notice to ticket holders, “The vast majority of ticketed guests will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person.”
While designated viewing areas are being arranged, most attendees will need to watch from other indoor locations. Only ticket holders for the Presidential Platform and members of Congress will be allowed to attend the Rotunda event.
The relocation of the inauguration and parade has prompted law enforcement and security agencies, including the Secret Service, DC Police, and US Capitol Police, to revise plans that had been in development for months. These agencies now have just three days to finalize security measures for the updated venues.
The Capitol Rotunda, where the ceremony will take place, can hold approximately 700 people. Attendance will be restricted to members of Congress, their spouses, and VIPs, with final plans still being worked out. Security protocols will be similar to those used for State of the Union addresses, with the Capitol and its surroundings closed off to the public.
Meanwhile, Capital One Arena, which has a capacity of just over 20,000, has been chosen to host the public. However, this venue will not fully accommodate the over 200,000 individuals who had initially secured tickets. Congressional offices have been informed that commemorative tickets will still be issued to those unable to attend the event in person.
Health Concerns Over Extreme Cold
Trump expressed his concerns about the impact of the extreme weather on attendees, including law enforcement and first responders. “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!),” Trump posted.
The last indoor inauguration took place in 1985, during Ronald Reagan’s second term, when bitterly cold temperatures forced the ceremony indoors. President William Henry Harrison’s outdoor inauguration in 1841, held in similar weather, is widely believed to have contributed to his death a month later from pneumonia.
This year’s Inauguration Day is shaping up to be one of the coldest on record, with temperatures expected to hover in the low 20s at noon—nearly 20 degrees below average. Winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph, will make it feel even colder, with wind chills dropping to around 10 degrees during the day and into the single digits after sunset.
While Monday is expected to remain dry, forecasters warn of a possible mix of rain and snow on Sunday, just before the inauguration.
(CNN)