Trump’s inauguration moved indoors
With the coldest air of the season expected, plans are underway to have Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance sworn into office inside the US Capitol Rotunda, sources tell CNN.
It’s expected to be one of the coldest Inauguration Days on record, which has prompted the 2025 ceremony to be moved inside.
(CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration will be moved indoors, he announced Friday, due to dangerously cold temperatures projected in the nation’s capital.
“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 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. I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In,” Trump added.
CNN reported earlier Friday that plans were underway for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance to be sworn in in the Rotunda and that Trump’s team was in talks to potentially hold some of the festivities at the arena, where Trump will host a rally on Sunday.
Officials are worried about the low temperatures being a health risk to attendees and guests — a concern Trump voiced on Friday.
“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.
Flags on the US Capitol during a rehearsal ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, US, on Sunday, Jan. 12. (Photo credit: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
The last president to be sworn in indoors was Reagan in 1985, when daytime temperatures dipped to 7 degrees with a windchill of -25. Reagan took the oath of office inside the Capitol rotunda. His inaugural parade was canceled.
This year, the temperature on Inauguration Day at noon — when the president-elect swears in — is expected to be in the low 20s, which is around 20 degrees below normal — likely the coldest since Reagan’s second inauguration.
Winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph are likely Monday. These winds will make conditions feel frigid. Wind chills are likely to hover around 10 degrees during the daylight hours and could drop into the single digits after sundown.
A mix of rain and snow is possible Sunday ahead of the main event, but Monday so far looks to be cold and windy, but dry.
CNN’s Mary Gilbert and Taylor Ward contributed to this report.
This is story has been updated with additional developments.This is story has been updated with additional developments.
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