Ronald Reagan’s second presidential inauguration, in 1985, was the last to be held indoors because of the cold
The inauguration of the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump (Republican), 78 years old, this Monday (20.Jan.2025) will be the 1st to be held in 40 years because of extreme cold.
Since 1981, the ceremony has traditionally been held outside, on the West Front of the US Congress headquarters in Washington, D.C. The public gathers on the National Mall, a large open area that stretches from Congress to the Obelisk, to attend the event.
In the image, Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017; the ceremony was held at the time on the West Front of the Capitol and was attended by a large audience
The low temperatures that hit the North American capital during the period in which presidential inaugurations are held (always on January 20th, with rare exceptions, such as when the 20th falls on a Sunday) may lead to the relocation of the ceremony to the interior of the country. Capitol.
The weather forecast in Washington at Trump’s inauguration is extremely cold, with a minimum temperature of -11°C and a maximum of -4°C, according to published at 4:32 pm (in Brasília) on Sunday (19 January).
Therefore, the Republican will assume his 2nd term in the US Capitol Rotunda, a circular space located in the center of the building, which connects the Senate and House wings.
In addition, the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House will be transferred to the Capitol One Arena, a multi-sports stadium with capacity for around 20,000 people.
The last inauguration to be held indoors due to low temperatures was in 1985, when Ronald Reagan (Republican) took office for his second term.
At the time, temperatures were -14 ºC at 12 pm local time (2 pm in Brasília) – the time when the elected president must take his oath of office, as determined by the 20th amendment to the US Constitution.
Reagan swore to faithfully exercise his office and defend the U.S. Constitution in the Capitol Rotunda.
The troop review, which is when the president and vice president head to the steps on the East Front of the Capitol to review the military forces that make up the presidential parade escort, and the parade itself have been canceled.
See images from Ronald Reagan’s inauguration on January 21, 1985:
Gallery: Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration
