Trump’s Swearing-In to Move Indoors Due to Frigid Weather: Report

Washington: Due to extreme cold and windchill, President-elect Donald Trump has ordered his inauguration to be moved indoors to the Capitol rotunda, as was done for Reagan in 1985. The event will be live-streamed at Capital One Arena, where Trump will join the crowd after his swearing-in.

Inauguration day is typically chilly, but Monday is expected to be particularly cold, with a high of 20 degrees, a low of 6 degrees, and strong winds.

This change would result in fewer people witnessing the moment Trump becomes the 47th president, with the ceremony limited to a smaller indoor group and TV viewers.

"The weather forecast for Washington, DC, with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows. There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way...Therefore, I have ordered the inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather. The various Dignitaries and Guests will be brought into the Capitol. This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience! We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade. I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In" posts US President-elect Donald Trump

The last indoor inauguration ceremony was at Ronald Reagan's second swearing-in, when the parade was also cancelled.

The decision to move the swearing-in indoors rests with Trump. However, a source familiar with his thoughts mentioned that he is aware of the risks posed by the harsh cold for the thousands of attendees waiting for hours.

The Rotunda is prepared as the inclement weather 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.

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.

Trump said some supporters would be able to watch the ceremony from Washington’s Capital One area on Monday, a day after he plans to hold a rally there. He said he would visit the arena after his swearing-in.

The National Weather Service is predicting the temperature to be around 22 degrees (minus-6 Celsius) at noon during the swearing-in, the coldest since Reagan’s second inauguration saw temperatures plunge to 7 degrees (minus-14 Celsius). Barack Obama’s 2009 swearing-in was 28 degrees (minus-2 Celsius). Adding to the bite: Wind is forecast to be 30 to 35 mph (48 to 56 kph), sending wind chills into the single digits.

Trump’s inaugural committee and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(with agency inputs)