'Arctic blast' forces Trump’s inauguration indoors

New York: President-elect Donald Trump has moved his inauguration ceremonies indoors due to the threat of an "Arctic blast" — extreme cold and strong winds — forecast to hit Washington on Monday. The decision drastically reduces the traditional outdoor spectacle that typically draws hundreds of thousands of people.

In a post on Truth Social Friday afternoon, Trump announced that the swearing-in ceremony, along with his inaugural address, other speeches, and prayers, will now take place inside the Capitol Rotunda. This historic shift will bring dignitaries and guests into the Capitol building, where the Senate and House chambers are located. Trump expressed his belief that the ceremony would be "a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience."

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to begin at noon local time (10:30 pm IST) and will be broadcast on multiple networks and online channels.

In a break from tradition, Trump has invited several foreign leaders to attend his inauguration. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent the country, while China’s Vice President Han Zheng will attend in place of President Xi Jinping. Argentina's President Javier Milei will also be present. Notably, Trump has opted to invite ideological allies from Europe, including Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage, France’s Reconquete party president Eric Zemmour, Belgium's Vlaams Belang party leader Tom Van Grieken, and former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, instead of European Union leaders.

Trump has also sparked controversy by inviting TikTok CEO Shou Chew, despite the ongoing legal battle over the app's security concerns, as the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a law requiring the Chinese-owned platform to be sold or shut down. Other notable invitees include Twitter owner Elon Musk, Tesla founder Musk, and tech giants like Sundar Pichai (Google), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta/Facebook), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and Tim Cook (Apple).

In keeping with tradition, Trump’s wife Melania will hold the Bible on which he will place his left hand and raise his right hand to take the oath of office, which will be administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. Trump’s personal bible will be used alongside the one that was used by President Abraham Lincoln during his 1861 inauguration.

Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, will be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

With the Capitol Rotunda measuring only 706 square meters, space will be tight for distinguished guests from both the U.S. and abroad. Trump explained his decision to move the ceremony indoors by expressing concern for the safety of the attendees, citing the extreme weather conditions that could cause injuries due to the cold. The forecast predicts temperatures as low as -13 degrees Celsius with wind gusts of up to 50 km/h, making it feel even colder, between -11 and -16 degrees, after snow on Sunday.

In a nod to previous history, Trump pointed to the 1985 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan, which also moved indoors due to chilly weather. Trump invited people to watch the live telecast of the swearing-in ceremony at the Capital One Arena, a 20,000-capacity sports venue, where marching bands will perform instead of the usual procession down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

The traditional events, such as the inauguration balls and parties, will take place as planned. The day's schedule will begin with a religious service at St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a tea at the White House before heading to the Capitol. The ceremony will include religious prayers, with a Catholic cardinal, an evangelical pastor, and a Jewish rabbi, among others, offering blessings.

After the swearing-in, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will receive a ceremonial send-off, and Trump will attend a luncheon at the Capitol hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee for the inauguration. The schedule also includes a military review in front of the Capitol before heading to the arena for further festivities.

Although Trump had originally planned for an outdoor event, he sent messages urging his supporters to attend, warning them to dress warmly due to the "dangerous" conditions. The extreme weather is expected to be a dampener for Trump, who has been known for his grand spectacles and love for large crowds. In 2017, he had a public disagreement with the media over crowd size, claiming that "a million and a half people" had attended his inauguration despite differing media estimates.

With IANS inputs