Due to predicted frigid temperatures in Washington, D.C., President-elect Trump's inauguration ceremonies will be held indoors, according to reports from Fox News. This shift preemptively addresses potential debates about attendance figures, a topic that sparked controversy during his 2017 inauguration.

Trump announced via Truth Social that the decision to move the address, prayers, and speeches to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda was made to protect attendees from the "Arctic blast" and potentially dangerous windchill. He expressed concern for the safety of law enforcement, first responders, and supporters who would be exposed to the elements for extended periods. He encouraged attendees to dress warmly and announced that the Capital One Arena would be open for live viewing of the inauguration and the subsequent presidential parade, which he plans to join.

The Inaugural Committee confirmed the move to the Rotunda. By holding the event indoors, the opportunity for large outdoor gatherings and subsequent crowd size comparisons is eliminated. This directly addresses the 2017 controversy where then-Press Secretary Sean Spicer criticized media reports about the crowd size, alleging underreporting and manipulated photographs.

Spicer's claims at the time included accusations of intentional framing of photographs to downplay the crowd and the dissemination of inaccurate attendance figures. He argued that official numbers were unavailable because the National Park Service, which manages the National Mall, does not release them.

This situation mirrors President Biden's 2021 inauguration, which faced attendance limitations due to COVID-19 restrictions. The sparsely attended event, where participants wore masks and social distancing guidelines were inconsistently followed, provides another example of how external factors can influence inaugural attendance.

This marks the first inauguration held primarily indoors since President Reagan's second inauguration in 1985, which was also moved indoors due to extreme cold. Reagan took the oath of office privately the day prior, with the public ceremonies held inside the following day due to dangerously low temperatures.