The History Behind Moving Presidential Inaugurations Indoors – Casson Living – World News, Breaking News, International News

The History Behind Moving Presidential Inaugurations Indoors – Casson Living – World News, Breaking News, International News

Indoor Inauguration for Donald Trump’s Second Term

President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated second inauguration is scheduled to take place indoors, as Washington, D.C. braces for a significant drop in temperature on Monday, with forecasts predicting temperatures to dip below 20 degrees. The biting wind chill is expected to make it feel even colder, plunging the effective temperature into the single digits.

Trump will be officially inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. The inaugural parade is set to unfold at the Capitol One Arena. He is not the first president to choose an indoor ceremony in the face of harsh weather conditions. This upcoming inauguration is projected to be the coldest since 1985, when Ronald Reagan took his oath for a second term amidst frigid temperatures of just 7 degrees. Like Trump’s event, Reagan’s inauguration was also held indoors at the Capitol, with an outdoor parade featuring a notable team of 21 Alaskan huskies being canceled due to the severe cold.

Historically, several presidents have opted for indoor ceremonies during inclement weather. For instance, in 1909, William Taft was sworn in within the Senate chamber due to a blizzard that blanketed the city in nearly 10 inches of snow. Despite the weather, the subsequent parade still took place outdoors, boasting an impressive lineup of around 20,000 participants.

Taft humorously commented on the situation, saying, “I always knew it would be a cold day in hell when I became president,” as noted by the Washington Post.

While some presidents have braved the elements for outdoor inauguration ceremonies, others have preferred to stay warm indoors. For example, President John F. Kennedy was inaugurated on a brisk day with temperatures at 22 degrees, following an unexpected snowfall of eight inches just a day prior. The U.S. Army Engineers worked diligently to clear the snow, allowing the ceremony and parade to proceed as planned, despite the challenging weather conditions.

As the date of the inauguration approaches, Trump has encouraged attendees to dress warmly and even suggested that many might prefer to watch the events from the cozy confines of their homes. On January 17, he conveyed on Truth Social, “I don’t want to see people hurt or injured in any way.”