Trump's inauguration forced indoors for first time in 40 years due to Arctic blast

Extreme cold forces change to inauguration plans, with key events now shifted to indoor venues in Washington, DC.

Donald Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration will be a historic one, not just for the significance of his return to office, but because it will be held indoors due to extreme weather conditions.

The president-elect announced on Friday that the swearing-in ceremony, originally planned for the National Mall, will now take place inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, citing an impending polar vortex expected to grip Washington, D.C.

Trump took to Truth Social to explain the change of plans, writing: “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. 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. (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!).”

He continued, “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 decision marks the first time in four decades that an inaugural ceremony will be held indoors, a change driven by the forecast of dangerously cold temperatures.

On Monday, the high for Washington, D.C. is expected to reach just 22°F, with overnight lows plummeting to 7°F. These temperatures are mild in comparison to Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, when the temperature barely reached 7°F, and wind chills made it feel between -10°F and -20°F.

Since Reagan’s inauguration, only one other presidential swearing-in has taken place in similarly frigid conditions — Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, where the temperature hovered at 28°F.

Although the event was originally expected to draw hundreds of thousands of supporters to the National Mall, the extreme cold has now limited attendance to only a few hundred special guests, lawmakers, and media members.

In his Truth Social post, Trump invited supporters to watch the ceremony live at the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C. The arena will also host the inaugural parade, which has been significantly altered due to the weather.

Trump plans to take the oath of office at noon inside the Capitol Rotunda, and immediately following, he will participate in a signing ceremony in the Capitol’s President’s Room, where he is expected to approve several Executive Orders.

Later in the day, Trump will travel to Capital One Arena to view the indoor parade, which had originally been planned to take place along Pennsylvania Avenue, culminating at the White House. The day’s events will conclude with Trump attending three nighttime inaugural balls, where he will deliver remarks to the guests.

Trump, who turns 78 years old on inauguration day, will stay at Blair House on Sunday night before meeting with outgoing President Joe Biden on Monday morning for tea. Afterward, he will head to the Capitol for his historic swearing-in ceremony.

Despite the shift indoors, Trump remains committed to an eventful inauguration, with an elaborate schedule that includes both formal and celebratory moments.