As a historic Arctic blast sweeps across the United States, the upcoming presidential inauguration faces a dramatic shift in plans. The severe weather conditions threatening Washington, D.C., could force President-elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony to move indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, marking only the second such indoor ceremony in modern history.
Potential venue change amid dangerous cold
The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures around 22 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-6 Celsius) during Monday’s scheduled noon ceremony, with wind speeds of 30 to 35 mph (48 to 56 kph) creating dangerous single-digit wind chills. These conditions have prompted serious safety concerns, leading officials to consider moving the ceremony indoors.
Trump addressed these concerns on Truth Social, stating, “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.”
Historical precedent and logistical challenges
If moved indoors, this would be the first inauguration held in the Capitol Rotunda since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, when temperatures plunged to 7 degrees (minus-14 Celsius). The anticipated temperatures would make this the coldest inauguration since that historic day, significantly colder than Barack Obama’s 2009 ceremony, which took place in 28-degree (minus-2 Celsius) weather.
The potential venue change creates substantial logistical challenges for event organizers. Currently, approximately 250,000 ticketed guests are expected to attend the ceremony around the Capitol grounds, with many more planning to watch from general admission areas or along the inaugural parade route from the Capitol to the White House.
To accommodate some of the displaced crowd, Trump announced plans to make the Capital One Arena available for viewing the ceremony. He indicated he would visit the venue following his swearing-in, with a rally planned there the day before the inauguration.
