US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that his inauguration ceremony, slated for January 20, will be moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to the extremely cold temperatures forecast for Washington, D.C.
Trump decided to ensure the safety of the tens of thousands of attendees, including law enforcement, first responders, and supporters, who will be gathered outside for several hours.
The Washington, D.C. area has been experiencing consistent freezing conditions throughout January, with snow still on the ground from the January 6 storm that dumped about a foot of snow in Washington and Maryland.
Trump expressed his concerns about the safety of the attendees, stating, “I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th”.
Trump also advised supporters to dress warmly if they still plan to attend the inauguration.
Despite the venue change, Trump has confirmed that all other events will go as planned, including the victory rally at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, at Capital One Arena, and the three inaugural balls on Monday night, January 20.
Capital One Arena, which has a 20,000-seat capacity, will also host a viewing party for those who cannot attend the inauguration ceremony.
Trump plans to join the crowd for the inaugural parade after the ceremony.
