President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance’s swearing-in ceremonies will take place inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday amid record low temperatures and possible snow forecasted for the day.
Trump announced Friday that he has ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda instead of outside on the steps of the Capitol.
Temperatures in Washington D.C. are expected to be well below average when Trump takes the oath of office at noon on Monday, according to The Weather Channel. The highest temperature forecasted for Monday in D.C. is 24 degrees with 10-20 mph winds, while low is forecasted to be just 9 degrees in the evening.
“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,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday.
The last time an inauguration ceremony was held indoors was in 1985 for President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration, which was also due to cold temperatures.
Trump also announced that the Presidential Parade would be moved indoors to the Capital One Arena, which will be open to the public earlier in the day as a venue to watch the inauguration and welcome Trump after his swearing-in ceremony.
“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,” Trump said.
“Everyone will be safe, everyone will be happy, and we will, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” Trump added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
