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Parts of Donald Trump’s inauguration will be moved inside the US Capitol due to the cold weather forecast for Washington on Monday.
It will be the first time since 1985 – when a severe cold snap hit Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration – that the swearing-in ceremony has been moved indoors.
The president-elect announced the revised plans in a post to Truth Social on Friday, saying he ordered it inaugural addressas well as prayers and speeches, to be held inside the Capitol Rotunda as Reagan did four decades ago.
“Arctic explosion sweeps the earth. I don’t want to see people hurt or hurt in any way,” Trump wrote.
“These are dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of police, emergency responders, K9 officers and even horses, and the hundreds of thousands of fans who will be out there for many hours on the 20th.”
The National Weather Service said there was an “increased winter storm threat” Sunday afternoon and evening and predicted about 2-4 inches of snow, with a “reasonable worst case” scenario of 4-8 inches.
A “very cold wind chill” is expected Monday through Wednesday, the NWS said Friday, as it predicts temperatures will be “well below freezing” during that period.
The agency is forecasting a high of around -5C at 11am local time on Monday, when the swearing-in ceremony is due to begin, with a wind chill of -13C which it warned could result in hypothermia or frostbite without proper clothing.
Trump said the Capital One Arena – with a capacity of 20,000 – would be open on Monday to watch the ceremony live, and that he would visit the venue, located about 2 km from the Capitol, after his swearing-in.
Other events, including a victory rally in the arena scheduled for Sunday and the inaugural balls scheduled for Monday night, will continue as scheduled, the president-elect said.
Trump encouraged supporters who choose to attend to “dress warmly!”
