U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that his inauguration will be moved indoors due to dangerously cold temperatures projected for Washington, D.C. Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will now be sworn in at the Capitol Rotunda, echoing Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, which also faced historic cold.
“I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda,” Trump posted on Truth Social, citing safety concerns for attendees.
To accommodate public participation, Capital One Arena will host a live viewing of the ceremony and the Presidential Parade. Trump plans to join the crowd there following the swearing-in.
Officials warn that temperatures on Inauguration Day are expected to be in the low 20s, around 20 degrees below normal, with wind chills hovering around 10 degrees during the day and potentially dropping to single digits after sunset. Gusts of up to 30 mph are anticipated.
The last time an inauguration moved indoors was in 1985, when temperatures reached a daytime low of 7 degrees with a windchill of -25. That year, Reagan took the oath inside the Capitol Rotunda, and the parade was canceled.
Trump expressed concern for the safety of attendees, including law enforcement and first responders. “I don’t want to see people hurt or injured,” he said. “If you decide to come, dress warmly!”
CNN reported that Trump’s team has been preparing for the possibility of moving events indoors, with discussions about hosting portions of the festivities at Capital One Arena. The arena will also host a rally on Sunday ahead of the inauguration.
While some outdoor events may proceed, the cold and potential snowfall expected on Sunday have prompted organizers to adjust plans. Monday’s forecast indicates dry but frigid and windy conditions.
As the nation prepares for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, the shift indoors highlights the impact of extreme weather on tradition, marking only the second indoor presidential inauguration in modern history.