WASHINGTON (AP) — The last time a U.S. president did not take the oath of office outdoors, on the steps of the Capitol, was 40 years ago, when Ronald Reagan had to do it inside the Congressional building due to the freezing temperatures of 7 °F that day in Washington. The Hollywood actor was being sworn in for the second time, as he had just won re-election in a landslide victory over Democrat Walter Mondale.
The scenario will be repeated in 2025, as temperatures of 11 °F are forecasted for this Monday, January 20, which forced Donald Trump’s team to take drastic measures: the president-elect will take the oath from inside the Capitol Rotunda.
What did Trump say when he was sworn in inside the Capitol?
"The weather forecast for Washington D.C., with the wind chill factor, could bring temperatures to severe historic lows," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "There is an arctic blast sweeping the country. I don't want to see people hurt or injured in any way."
La Rotonda is prepared as an alternative for each inauguration in case of bad weather. Monday's forecast predicts the coldest temperatures for an inauguration day since 1985 and it may even snow.
This will force the implementation of alternative emergency plans for the approximately 250,000 guests who have tickets to watch the inauguration from the surroundings of the Capitol and the tens of thousands more expected to be in the general admission areas.
One of those ideas is to use the Capital One Arena, the NBA Wizards' stadium located several blocks from the National Mall, for people to gather and watch the inaugural events live. Trump could even show up at the venue at some point during the afternoon.
It is estimated that Trump's car parade route will also be canceled, from the Capitol to the White House.
During the historic inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009, the first African American president of the United States, the temperature was 28 °F and it was held outdoors.
The change will have an unwanted impact on Donald Trump, who is always concerned about the size of the audiences attending his events. In 2017, for example, he claimed, against evidence, that more people attended his inauguration than Obama’s in 2019.