Donald Trump has been robbed of a huge swearing-in ceremony after his inauguration was moved indoors due to dangerously freezing temperatures.
The decision will ensure far fewer people will be able to watch the moment he officially becomes the 47th president, limiting it to a much smaller group of invited guests inside.
He had invited hundreds of guests, including billionaires Elon Musk,Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
The move will also ensure the security threat posed to Trump on the day is drastically reduced.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump highlighted the harsh conditions: “With the windchill, temperatures in DC. could hit record lows. There’s an Arctic blast sweeping the country.”
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt or injured. The conditions are dangerous for the thousands of law enforcement officers, first responders, K9 units, horses, and the hundreds of thousands of supporters who would be outside for hours,” he wrote, adding a note of caution: “If you decide to come, dress warmly.”
Trump’s post included screenshots from the National Weather Service forecasting “dangerously cold wind chills” of down to -12c.
The decision to move the event indoors spares attendees, security officials, and spectators from enduring hours in the freezing cold.
It also sidesteps the potential for a smaller turnout – a sensitive issue for Trump.
In 2017, he was left angered when his inauguration was compared to President Obama’s 2009 ceremony, which had far more attendees.
Discussions within Trump’s team centred on the freezing weather forecast for Monday, with temperatures expected to plummet.
The last time a swearing-in ceremony was relocated indoors was for President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985, also due to extreme cold.
Trump also announced that the swearing-in, speeches, and prayers would take place in the Capitol Rotunda.
To accommodate the public, he said Capital One Arena, located a few streets from the National Mall, would serve as a venue for watching the events live.
He assured supporters that he would join them there afterwards.
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