Inauguration Ceremony Moved Indoors Due to Cold Weather

Inauguration Ceremony Moved Indoors Due to Cold Weather

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump arrived in Washington on Saturday evening for a celebration of his return to power ahead of an inauguration ceremony that has been moved indoors due to record cold temperatures.

Trump flew aboard an Air Force plane sent by outgoing President Joe Biden to his base in Palm Beach, Florida, where he prepared for his transition after winning the November 5th election. He was accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner.

Upon arrival at Dulles airport in Virginia, Trump headed to his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, on the outskirts of Washington.

On Saturday night, a celebration for Trump will be held with 500 guests, including fireworks and musical performances.

On Sunday, Trump will hold a rally with supporters inside the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, the eve of his inauguration.

Due to the frigid weather forecast for Monday, the inauguration ceremonies have been moved from the iconic west front of the U.S. Capitol building indoors to the Capitol Rotunda. The parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capital One Arena has also been moved indoors.

In the Capitol Rotunda, Trump will be sworn in at 12 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) and deliver an inaugural address. This will be the first time since Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in January 1985 that the event has been moved indoors.

Most of the ticketed guests who were due to watch from the U.S. Capitol grounds will be unable to view the swearing-in inside the building. Only a fraction will be able to fit inside the Capital One Arena, where the inauguration will be broadcast and parade entertainers and participants are expected to perform.

Despite the change in venue, Trump supporters are still excited about the inauguration. Arthur Caisse, a retired professor, and his brother Richard Caisse, a small business owner, traveled from Connecticut to see Trump's second inauguration. Debbie Koch, an information technology professional, traveled from Wisconsin with her sister to attend the Sunday night arena rally.

Once he returns to the White House on Monday afternoon, Trump is expected to begin signing dozens of executive orders and directives to crack down on migration, boost U.S. energy production, and other priorities.