Trump’s Upcoming Inauguration: A Chilly Indoor Affair
As temperatures in Washington, D.C. are set to plunge below 20 degrees on Monday, President Donald Trump’s second inauguration will take place indoors. The wind chill is expected to make it feel even colder, likely dipping into the single digits.
The ceremony will be held in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, marking Trump’s official start as the 47th President of the United States. The inaugural parade is scheduled to take place at the Capitol One Arena. This decision to hold the event indoors is not unprecedented; in fact, this inauguration is projected to be the coldest since 1985, when Ronald Reagan was sworn in during an icy 7-degree day. Reagan’s ceremony also took place indoors, and like Trump’s, his parade was canceled due to the extreme cold, despite featuring a unique Alaskan dog sled team of 21 huskies.
Historically, there have been several instances where presidents opted for indoor oaths due to inclement weather. For example, in 1909, William Taft took his oath inside the Senate chamber as a blizzard dumped nearly 10 inches of snow on the capital. Remarkably, the outdoor parade that followed still saw around 20,000 participants.
Taft humorously quipped at the time, saying, “I always knew it would be a cold day in hell when I became president,” according to the Washington Post.
While some presidents have braved the elements for their outdoor inauguration ceremonies, others have chosen the comfort of indoor settings. For instance, President John F. Kennedy was inaugurated on a brisk 22-degree day, following an unexpected snowfall of eight inches that had blanketed the region just the day before. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked diligently to clear the snow, ensuring that the ceremony and parade could proceed as intended, despite the adverse conditions.
As Trump’s inauguration day approaches, he has recommended that attendees dress warmly, while also suggesting that they might find it more comfortable to watch the proceedings from home. On January 17, he posted on Truth Social, “I don’t want to see people hurt or injured in any way.”
