Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President inside the Capitol Rotunda Monday, with a polar vortex forecast to grip the nation’s capital.
The president-elect announced the change of plans in a noontime Truth Social post Friday, writing in part: “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. 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!).
“Therefore, 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.”
The Monday forecast for DC calls for high temperatures of 22 degrees Fahrenheit, with an overnight low of 7 degrees.
That’s downright balmy compared Reagan’s second inauguration, which was also held in the Rotunda as the noon temperature reached 7 degrees, with the afternoon wind chill making it feel between negative-10 and negative-20 degrees.
Since that day in 1985, the temperature for a presidential swearing-in has only fallen below freezing once: in 2009, when Barack Obama took the oath of office in 28-degree weather.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.