President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that his inauguration ceremony will be moved indoors due to dangerously cold temperatures forecasted for Washington, D.C. The event will now take place in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, a location last used for Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 under similar conditions.
“I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda,” Trump wrote 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.”
CNN reported earlier that plans were underway to accommodate the move, with Vice President-elect JD Vance also taking the oath indoors. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies confirmed the decision, stating they would honor Trump’s request to relocate the event. The committee routinely prepares contingency plans for weather-related issues but now faces the challenge of managing the thousands of spectators who would have attended the outdoor ceremony.
In a notice sent to ticket holders, the committee explained that most ticketed guests would not be able to attend the indoor event in person. Instead, spectators were encouraged to watch the ceremony from “indoor venues of their choice.” Limited access will be granted to individuals holding tickets for the Presidential Platform and members of Congress.
Security overhaul and weather concerns
The last-minute changes have forced federal agencies, including the Secret Service and Capitol Police, to modify security plans with only three days’ notice. The inauguration, designated by the Department of Homeland Security as a National Special Security Event, initially involved months of preparation and 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel.
Initially, more than 30 miles of fencing were being installed to secure the outdoor inauguration and parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue. However, with the event now moving indoors, officials are scrambling to update security measures for both the Capitol Rotunda and Capital One Arena.
Health concerns for attendees also played a significant role in the decision to move the ceremony indoors. Trump emphasized his concern for public safety in a Truth Social post, stating, “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.”
Weather forecasts for Inauguration Day predict temperatures in the low 20s at noon, with wind chills making it feel even colder. Winds of 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, are expected. Conditions will be among the coldest since Reagan’s 1985 inauguration, which saw a wind chill of -25 degrees. President William Henry Harrison’s ill-fated 1841 inauguration, held in freezing weather, serves as a cautionary tale; Harrison fell ill shortly after his two-hour outdoor speech and died a month later.
While Monday’s weather is expected to be dry, a mix of rain and snow could precede the event on Sunday. Officials continue to urge attendees to dress warmly if they plan to visit any of the designated viewing locations.
Trump’s inauguration marks a rare indoor swearing-in and reflects the logistical challenges posed by extreme weather, underscoring the importance of safety for both participants and attendees.
