President-elect Donald Trump has announced that his inauguration ceremony will be held inside the Capitol on January 19, 2025, due to severe cold, marking the first time in 40 years that a US presidential inauguration will take place indoors.
“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the country. I don’t want to see people hurt or injured,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The inauguration, along with prayers and speeches, will now be held in the Capitol Rotunda.
Trump said supporters could view the ceremony on screens inside the Capital One Arena, which holds 20,000 people. The change significantly reduces the number of people who can attend the event in person, as many of the 220,000 ticketed guests won’t be able to watch the ceremony inside the building.
The National Park Service has not yet confirmed whether the public will still be allowed to gather on the National Mall to watch the indoor ceremony on large video screens.
