Severe cold weather has forced the president-elect, Donald Trump’s inauguration indoors (inside the U.S Capitol) for the first time in 40 years.
“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” Trump said on his social media, Truth Social platform on Friday.
“Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda,” Trump added.
The last time a presidential inauguration was moved indoors due to cold weather was in 1985 for former Republican President Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in when the afternoon wind chill plummeted into the range of minus 10 to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 to minus 29 degrees Celsius).
The forecast for Washington on Monday is for a temperature at the time of Trump’s swearing-in around 19 F (minus 7 C) but it is expected to feel even colder with wind chill.
Trump said supporters can view the ceremony on screens inside the Capital One Arena, a professional basketball and hockey venue in downtown Washington that holds 20,000 people.
The US president-elect also said his presidential parade, which was to involve marching bands and other groups proceeding down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, will be switched to Capital One Arena. It was not immediately clear how a parade would be organized inside the sports venue.
Trump will be joining the crowd at the arena after his swearing in ceremony.
