Due to dangerously cold temperatures, Donald Trump and JD Vance will be sworn in inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, instead of outside the Capitol as originally planned, according to Trump’s post on Truth Social. The entire inauguration, including prayers and speeches, will take place indoors.
The last time cold weather forced an indoor inauguration was in 1985 when Ronald Reagan was sworn in for his second term. James Monroe’s second inauguration was also held indoors in the House chamber due to a snowstorm.
The National Weather Service forecasts sunny weather for the National Mall on Monday, with a high of around 23 degrees. Trump noted that an “Arctic blast” could create “dangerous conditions” and “severe record lows” for the attendees, including his supporters, law enforcement, and first responders.
Trump also announced that Capital One Arena in downtown Washington would be opened for live viewing of the event and the presidential parade. He plans to join the crowd at the arena after the ceremony.
This year’s inauguration will be much colder than recent ones and even colder than William Henry Harrison’s inauguration in 1841, when he delivered the longest inaugural address in history despite cold, rainy weather. Harrison’s speech ultimately contributed to his death from pneumonia just a month later.
With the ceremony moved indoors, the crowd on the National Mall will likely be smaller than in previous years.
Trump’s first inauguration also faced controversy over crowd size, with his press secretary, Sean Spicer, arguing that the turnout did not compare to Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
The indoor venue also carries significant historical weight, coming four years after Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol, leading to the temporary suspension of lawmakers.
Inaugurating Trump in the same space where his supporters had breached security underscores the remarkable political turnaround since that day.
