Trump inauguration moves indoors as arctic chill bears down on DC

Justin Papp, CQ-Roll Call on Jan 17, 2025

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President-elect Donald Trump on Friday took to his social media platform Truth Social to call for his inauguration on Monday to be moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, with temperatures in the teens to low 20s forecast for the region.

“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” Trump posted, shortly after CNN broke news of the expected venue change. “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 (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!).”

Though the inauguration in recent memory has typically taken place outside on the West Front of the Capitol, there is precedent for moving the event indoors. Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration, in 1985, was also held in the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme cold.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, chaired by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., confirmed the venue change on Friday.

“The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will honor the request of the President-elect and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies inside the U.S. Capitol to the Rotunda,” a spokesperson said in a written statement.

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