Donald Trump, our President-elect, has announced that all inaugural address activities on the 20th of January will be relocated indoors due to the prediction of severe cold weather forecasted for Washington. These proceedings are now scheduled to occur within the historic US Capitol’s rotunda, a switch from the outdoor site that was initially intended. Additionally, the inaugural parade and all three inaugural balls will now unfurl indoors within downtown Washington’s Capital One Arena, approximately a mile (1.6km) away. This approach mirrors Ronald Reagan’s 1985 decision to move his inauguration indoors in response to similar extreme weather issues.
In addressing this decision, Trump emphasized his concern for the wellbeing of all those involved in the ceremonies, stating he does ‘not want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way’ amidst the challenging weather conditions. His thoughtful attention expands towards the ‘tens of thousands of law enforcement, first responders, police K9s and even horses,’ as well as the ‘hundreds of thousands’ of faithful supporters expected to attend. If individuals still decide to attend, a warm dressing was advised. The Capital One Arena is set to also enable a live viewing experience of the inaugural address.
The chilling weather expected in Washington DC on the inauguration day is a part of a broader polar vortex that is slated to influence temperatures across the entire country. Nonetheless, in his dynamic and reassuring style, Trump wrote that, ‘Everyone will be safe, everyone will be happy, and we will, together, Make America Great Again.’ Reassuring his supporters that the parade will be modified to meet these challenges.
It is yet to be confirmed whether this parade will also find a home indoors. However, knowing Trump’s resilience and commitment to delivering value for his supporters, all activities will certainly measure up to expectations, regardless of where they are held.
Inauguration organizers had initially released about 220,000 tickets for the event on the grounds of the US Capitol. Those without tickets would also have found alternate arrangements to witness the ceremonies around the National Mall. In light of the location change, these established plans will now require modifications to ensure that all visitors can participate in this monumental event.
Regardless of cold weather, several supporters of Trump expressed their unwavering commitment to attending. One shared that historical events like this should ideally be outdoors and suggested dressing warmly in the event of cold weather. Another said, ‘I would stand in the [cold] weather in order to support what he’s going to do, what he did in the past, and what he’s going to do in the future.’ These rewardingly strong sentiments undoubtedly validate Trump’s appeal to the masses.
The other inaugural events, including the three separate official inaugural balls, are set to occur as planned on Monday evening. This shift to an indoor setting might restrict the capacity somewhat, however considering the circumstances, this prudent decision alignends with Trump’s philosophy of prioritizing safety over mere numbers.
In his first inauguration, Trump drew considerable crowds, an impressive achievement that punctuated the start of his presidency. The importance he places in these figures only rests in their representation of nationwide support. Regardless of the figures from past inaugurations, the spirit of this inauguration under Trump’s leadership remains unparallelled.
Historically, there’s a precedent for being cautious about weather conditions during inaugurations. In 1841, President William Henry Harrison performed the longest inauguration speech ever on a cold, rainy day. The unfortunate result was that he caught a cold which progressed into pneumonia and led to his early demise one month later. This tragic tale certainly adds context to the level of meticulousness the Trump team employs in planning, once again proving Trump’s acumen.