US President to take oath indoors for first time in 40 years

For the first time in 40 years, the US presidential inauguration will be held indoors. Due to cold weather, the inauguration of newly elected President Donald Trump will take place indoors on Monday.

"There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way," Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Friday.

"Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda," Trump added.

Trump said supporters can view the ceremony on screens inside the Capital One Arena, a professional basketball and hockey venue in downtown Washington that holds 20,000 people.

According to the weather forecast for Monday in Washington, the temperature at the time of the oath-taking will be 19°F (-7°C), although it may feel colder because of the wind chill.

The last time such cold weather occurred was in 1985, when Republican President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration was held indoors because temperatures dropped between -23°C and -29°C.