Trump’s inauguration will be held indoors due to frigid weather forecast

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony is moving indoors to the Capitol rotunda because of a frigid weather forecast in the nation’s capital Monday, the president-elect announced on social media Friday.

Inauguration Day is often cold, but Monday looks to be especially brisk. The high is expected to be roughly 20 degrees, with a low of six degrees, and strong winds.

The last time the ceremony was held indoors was Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration when it was only seven degrees; the parade was also canceled that year. Former President Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009 was the only other sub-freezing high on inauguration day. 

“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,” Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social. “The various Dignitaries and Guests will be brought into the Capitol. This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience!”

“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” he added. “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!).”

The change will deprive Trump of the chance to draw a big crowd on the National Mall to see him sworn in — no doubt something of a disappointment for a man who is obsessed with crowd sizes.

Trump will be holding an indoor rally Sunday at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.

In his Truth Social post Friday, he also announced that supporters will be able to watch the inauguration ceremony from the arena on Monday as well.

“We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade,” he posted. “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In.”

The arena holds a maximum of 20,000 people, which is far less than the National Mall. Permits submitted for the inauguration estimated that there would be roughly 30,000 people in the ticketed area, and 250,000 people in the public, non-ticketed area.

The chance for spectators to view any of the inauguration from the National Mall on Monday appeared increasingly unlikely, a senior administration official with direct knowledge of the situation told NBC News on Friday evening.

Sections of fencing started being dismantled after Trump’s announcement, and officials do not plan to broadcast any inauguration events on screens at the National Mall, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Several Trump supporters already in Washington ahead of the inauguration told NBC News Friday that they were disappointed to hear the news.

“We made all of the plans and all of the arrangements to come up and be a part of this event,” Jose Granado, who traveled from Miami, told NBC News.

“We’re prepared for the weather, it’s not a problem,” his friend George Gonzalez said.

“We might as well stay at home and watch it on TV. I’m kind of disappointed, to be honest with you,” Ken Robinson, who traveled from Oklahoma, said. “We came here to watch it in person. We don’t really care to watch it on a Jumbotron.”

“Cold ain’t gonna hurt nobody,” said Harry Troyer, who traveled with Robinson. “We have farms, and we don’t get to not feed the cows ’cause it’s cold.”