President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that his inauguration will be held indoors due to dangerously cold temperatures forecasted in Washington, D.C.
“I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was done by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather,” Trump shared on Truth Social.
In addition to moving the swearing-in ceremony indoors, Trump announced that Capital One Arena will be opened on Monday for live viewing of the event and to host the presidential parade. “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In,” Trump added.
CNN reported earlier on Friday that Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are expected to take their oaths in the Capitol Rotunda. Discussions are also underway to relocate parts of the inaugural festivities to Capital One Arena, where Trump plans to host a rally on Sunday.
This marks the first indoor presidential swearing-in since Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, when subzero wind chills forced the ceremony inside the Capitol and canceled the inaugural parade.
Trump cited concerns about the safety of attendees and law enforcement personnel amid the extreme weather conditions. “I don’t want to see people hurt or injured in any way. These are dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of law enforcement officers, first responders, K9 units, horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours,” Trump posted.
Trump urged attendees to dress warmly if they choose to attend.
Monday’s Inauguration Day temperatures are expected to be in the low 20s—about 20 degrees below average for January—making it potentially the coldest inauguration since Reagan’s in 1985.
Wind speeds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph will make conditions feel even colder, with wind chills hovering around 10 degrees during daylight hours and dropping into single digits after sunset.
A mix of rain and snow is possible on Sunday ahead of the ceremony, but Monday is expected to be dry, albeit bitterly cold and windy.
