Donald Trump says inauguration to be moved indoors due to freezing temperatures
President-elect Donald Trump has announced that his inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025, will be moved indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to dangerously low temperatures forecasted for Washington, D.C. This decision marks the first time in 40 years that an inauguration will be held inside, with the last instance occurring during Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, also due to severe cold conditions.
Trump expressed his concern for the safety of attendees, stating, “I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” in a message shared on his social media platform, Truth Social. The expected temperature at the time of the swearing-in is around 19°F (-7°C), but wind chill could make it feel even colder.
In addition to the indoor ceremony, Trump’s inaugural parade will take place at Capital One Arena instead of down Pennsylvania Avenue. This venue can accommodate only a fraction of the expected crowd, as approximately 240,000 people hold tickets for the outdoor event. Trump plans to join supporters at the arena after his swearing-in ceremony.
The shift to an indoor inauguration has significant implications for logistics and security arrangements, as well as for the experience of attendees who had planned to witness the event outdoors.
