Mon Jan 20 14:13:36 UTC 2025: **Trump’s Inauguration Moves Indoors Due to Frigid Weather**

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday at 12 p.m. EST, due to a forecast of dangerously cold temperatures. This marks only the second time an inauguration has been moved indoors from the West Front of the Capitol, following a similar decision by President Ronald Reagan in 1985.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of only 24 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts up to 31 mph on Monday. Crews have rapidly adapted, transforming the Rotunda and Capital One Arena to accommodate the inaugural events. This change has drastically reduced capacity; the outdoor ceremony planned for the West Front could have held around 1,600 guests, while the Rotunda’s limited space will accommodate approximately 750. Consequently, many of the nearly 250,000 ticket holders will be unable to attend.

Despite the scaled-down venue, several high-profile guests will be present, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

The day’s events will still include a traditional morning prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, followed by tea with President Biden at the White House before the swearing-in. Following the inauguration ceremony and address in the Rotunda, the Presidential Parade will continue indoors at Capital One Arena. Three inaugural balls will cap off the evening, each featuring musical performances from artists like Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood, Jason Aldean, the Village People, and Nelly.

While the change of venue presents logistical challenges, President-elect Trump expressed optimism about the event, declaring it “a very beautiful experience” for attendees and television viewers. Major news networks will broadcast live coverage across various platforms.

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