‘I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way’

January 17, 2025 journo

US President-elect Donald Trump may take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather.

“The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.”

Inauguration reviewing stand on Pennsylvania outside the White House, in Washington — Workers continue with the finishing touches on the presidential reviewing stand on Pennsylvania outside the White House Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Washington, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. (Jon Elswick via AP)

Members of the US military on stage during the rehearsal at the US Capitol ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, Jan. 12, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Rotunda is prepared as the alternative for each inauguration in the event of inclement weather.

The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term. Monday’s forecast calls for the lowest inauguration day temperatures since that day.

Outgoing President Joe Biden, members of Congress and other dignitaries and notable guests will be able to view the ceremony from inside the Capitol.

Alternate plans are required for the more roughly 250,000 guests ticketed to view the inauguration from around the Capitol grounds and the tens of thousands more expected to be in general admission areas or to line the inaugural parade route from the Capitol to the White House.

The sun rises behind the US Capitol as an inauguration rehearsal begins — The sun rises behind the US Capitol as a rehearsal begins on the West Front ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Members of the U.S. military Joint Honor Guard parade as they rehearse ahead of the upcoming presidential inauguration, at the North Lawn in front of the White House in Washington, Jan. 12, 2025 (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Trump said some supporters would be able to watch the ceremony from Washington’s Capital One Arena on Monday, a day after he plans to hold a rally there.

He said he would visit the arena, which has a capacity of about 20,000, after his swearing-in, and host a modified inaugural parade there.

Trump said other inaugural events, including the Sunday rally and his participation in three official inaugural balls on Monday night, would take place as scheduled.

The National Weather Service is predicting the temperature to be around minus-6 degrees Celsius at noon during the swearing-in, the coldest since Reagan’s second inauguration saw temperatures plunge to minus-14 degrees Celsius.

donald trump inauguration note jill biden sent to melania trump — Trump said some supporters would be able to watch the ceremony from Washington’s Capital One area and he will visit after the swearing in. (Getty)

Barack Obama’s 2009 swearing-in was -2 degrees Celsius. Adding to the bite: Wind is forecast to be 48-56 km/hr, sending wind chills into the single digits.

“The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will honour the request of the President-elect and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies inside the US Capitol to the Rotunda,” a spokesperson said on Friday.