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Parts of Donald Trump's inauguration will be moved inside the US Capitol due to freezing weather expected in Washington on Monday.
This will be the first time since 1985 – when a severe cold snap hit Ronald Reagan's second inauguration – that the swearing-in ceremony will be moved indoors.
The president-elect announced the revised plans in a post on Truth Social on Friday, saying he had ordered it Opening addressin addition to prayers and speeches, which will be delivered inside the Capitol Rotunda, as Reagan did four decades ago.
“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the country. I don't want to see people hurt or injured in any way. Trump books.
“These are dangerous conditions for tens of thousands of law enforcement officers, first responders, police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters who will be outside for several hours on the 20th.”
The National Weather Service said an “increased winter storm threat” was in place Sunday afternoon and evening, and it forecast 2 to 4 inches of snow, with a “reasonable worst-case” scenario of 4 to 8 inches.
The country is expected to see “extremely cold wind chills” from Monday to Wednesday, the Meteorological Service said on Friday, and it expected temperatures to be “well below freezing” during this period.
The agency expects the temperature to reach around -5 degrees Celsius at 11 a.m. local time on Monday, when the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to begin, with wind chills reaching -13 degrees Celsius that it warned could lead to hypothermia or hypothermia. Frost without suitable clothing.
Trump said that Capital One Arena – which has a capacity of 20,000 people – will be opened on Monday to watch the ceremony live, and that he will visit the venue, which is located about two kilometers from the Capitol Building, after taking the oath.
The president-elect said other events, including a victory parade on the plaza, scheduled for Sunday and inauguration ceremonies scheduled for Monday night, will continue as scheduled.
Trump encouraged his supporters who chose to come to “dress warmly!”
