President-elect Trump Decides to Take Oath of Office in Capitol Rotunda Due to Weather
President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather. The move is a change from the original plan to hold the ceremony outdoors on the National Mall, which has been threatened by severe cold weather.
The decision comes as a result of a cold snap sweeping the country, with temperatures expected to plummet to severe record lows. Trump took to his social media platform to announce the change, citing his desire to ensure the safety of those attending the event.
The Capitol Rotunda will be used as an alternative location for the inauguration, a plan that has only been used once before, when President Ronald Reagan took office for a second term in 1985. The decision means that those attending the ceremony, including outgoing President Joe Biden, members of Congress, and other dignitaries, will be able to view the ceremony from inside the Rotunda.
The move has also forced the cancellation of the outdoor ceremony, which was expected to draw over 250,000 guests. However, alternate plans are being made to accommodate as many guests as possible, with some supporters able to watch the ceremony from Washington’s Capital One Arena. The arena, which has a capacity of 20,000, will host a modified inaugural parade following Trump’s swearing-in.
The U.S. Secret Service and event organizers are working together to adapt to the changes, with the National Weather Service predicting temperatures of around 22 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-6 Celsius) during the swearing-in.
The change in plans is the latest twist in a day of unexpected developments surrounding the inauguration, which was already shrouded in controversy following the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
