President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, originally planned to be held outdoors at the US Capitol, will now take place inside the Capitol Rotunda on January 20, due to an unprecedented Arctic blast sweeping across the United States. The historic decision was made to ensure the safety of attendees, law enforcement, and event personnel amidst dangerously low temperatures forecast for Inauguration Day.
Trump announced the change in a post on Truth Social, citing the need to protect the public from the extreme cold. “It is my obligation to protect the People of our Country but, before we even begin, we have to think of the Inauguration itself. The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows. There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.,” he wrote.
The Capitol Rotunda, a large domed chamber at the center of the Capitol building, will serve as the venue for the swearing-in ceremony and inaugural speeches. Trump recalled that this was not without precedent, as former President Ronald Reagan also took his oath indoors in 1985 under similar 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. The various dignitaries and guests will be brought into the Capitol. This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience!” Trump stated.
While details on attendance inside the Rotunda remain unclear, a notice from the House Sergeant at Arms confirmed that the majority of outdoor tickets would now be converted into commemorative souvenirs. Organizers are still evaluating whether limited access can be granted to those holding tickets for sections closest to the outdoor stage.
To accommodate the public, the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C., will host a live viewing of the inauguration. The venue, which seats up to 20,000 people, will also host Trump’s Victory Rally on Sunday, January 19, and the Presidential Parade following the oath-taking ceremony on Monday.
Trump encouraged supporters to take advantage of these arrangements, emphasizing that all events at the arena, including three inaugural balls scheduled for Monday evening, will proceed as planned. Doors for Sunday’s rally will open at 1 PM, with the event beginning at 3 PM.
The decision to move the inauguration indoors comes as an Arctic blast grips much of North America, with Washington, D.C., bracing for one of its coldest days in decades. Temperatures on January 20 are forecast to range between minus 12°C and minus 5°C, making it one of the coldest inauguration days in U.S. history. Weather reports suggest the Arctic front will push southward from Canada, impacting much of the central, western, and eastern United States over the weekend before arriving in the nation’s capital.
During the inauguration on January 20, Trump will be sworn in as the forty-seventh President of the United States. He previously served as the forty-fifth President between 2017 and 2021.
