Trump Gets Sad Indoors Inauguration: What We Know

For weeks, it’s been clear that Donald Trump — a man who loves pomp and famously obsessed over the crowd size at his first swearing-in — wouldn’t get the inauguration he wanted. Flags were set to be at half-staff to honor the late Jimmy Carter, the Senate won’t have his Cabinet picks confirmed on day one, and Congress hasn’t even settled on a plan for enacting his second-term agenda.

While Trump managed to get flags back to full staff at the Capitol, the weather is still conspiring against him. On Friday, Trump announced that his inauguration will be moved indoors due to dangerously cold temperatures projected for Washington, D.C. Here’s what we know about what Trump’s sad indoors festivities will look like.

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What did Trump say about his indoors inauguration?

Trump confirmed reports that his inauguration was being moved indoors in a Truth Social message posted at 11:55 a.m. on Friday.

“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,” Trump wrote.

Trump added that other festivities will take place in the Capital One Arena.

“We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade. I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In,” he said.

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Has the inauguration ever been held indoors before?

Yes. This will be the third presidential inauguration held indoors. As Trump noted, Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration was held inside. Per CNN:

The last president to be sworn in indoors was Reagan in 1985, when daytime temperatures dipped to 7 degrees with a windchill of -25. Reagan took the oath of office inside the Capitol rotunda. His inaugural parade was canceled.

James Monroe’s second inauguration in 1821 was also held inside the Capitol due to a snowstorm.

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What did Reagan’s indoor inauguration look like?

Here’s video of the 1985 swearing-in ceremony and Reagan’s speech:

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What does the new inauguration stage look like?

It’s pretty sad!

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Who is attending the second Trump inauguration?

Prior to the venue change, guest were expected to include:

TMZ reported that various celebrities from the right-wing media ecosphere were also planning to attend:

Sources with direct knowledge of the inauguration guest list tell TMZ … confirmed attendees include Logan and Jake Paul, Theo Von, Dana White, Amber Rose, Caitlyn Jenner, The Nelk Boys, Bryce Hall and Megyn Kelly.

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How are they going to fit everyone in the Capitol Rotunda?

They aren’t. Axios reported on Friday afternoon that the change of venue means “many lawmakers will likely not be able to attend”:

• When Ronald Reagan was inaugurated in the rotunda in 1985, only 96 people were invited, according to contemporaneous reports.

• That’s significantly fewer than the 435 House members and 100 senators — not to mention Trump’s family members, Cabinet and staff appointees, Supreme Court justices and other invited VIPs.

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Who’s skipping the Trump inauguration?

Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi were already planning to skip before the event moved indoors. And according to TMZ, celebrities Dr. Phil and Roseanne Barr declined their invitations.

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Why is William Henry Harrison is trending?

Didn’t you watch The Simpsons? He “died in 30 days!” (Probably because he was sworn in on a cold and wet day, which led to a cold, and then fatal pneumonia.)

This post has been updated.

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