After months of planning the event and necessary security, the plan for inauguration weekend has been scrapped just days before Trump is set to be sworn in.
On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump ordered his inauguration to be moved indoors due to extremely cold temperatures expected for January 20th.
It is the first time a presidential inauguration has been moved indoors since Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1985.
The last-minute change is forcing a scramble for hundreds of thousands of people that planned to attend the 47th president’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Trump will now take his oath of office inside the Capitol Rotunda. A stage is being assembled and the event will be live streamed to Capital One Arena, where Trump plans to make an appearance following the ceremony at the Capitol.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. Everyone will be safe, everyone will be happy, and we will, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
In an email sent from the House Sergeant at Arms to lawmakers and Hill staff, it was communicated that the 220,000 tickets distributed by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will now be “commemorative”.
Staff were notified that “the majority of ticketed guests will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person.” Several events will be happening as planned, despite the changes made to the inaugural ceremonies.
On Sunday, Trump will hold a rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C. The rally will feature performances by Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People, Lee Greenwood, and a Liberty University Choir that will pay tribute to the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania where an attendee was killed.
Speakers at Sunday’s rally will include Trump, Vance, Elon Musk, former wrestler Hulk Hogan, actor Jon Voight, UFC President Dana White, Puerto Rican reggaeton star Anuel AA, Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, and conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly.
The inaugural parade is set to be held at Capital One Arena following the inaugural ceremonies.
On Monday, the three official inaugural balls will be held as scheduled. These include the Commander in Chief Ball, Liberty Inaugural Ball, and Starlight Ball. Trump is set to deliver remarks at each event.
