Biting cold, protests, heightened security may mar Trump’s inauguration event

An unprecedented level of security in the American capital and bone-chilling cold threatens to dampen the festivities surrounding the inauguration of Donald Trump on Monday, but not the enthusiasm among his supporters as thousands of them started landing here from across the country.

Trump, 78, is scheduled to be sworn-in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, January 20. Because of extreme cold, the inauguration ceremony will take place inside the US capitol Rotunda and not on the traditional West Front of Capitol facing the National Mall and National Monument in front of hundreds and thousands of people.

“The forecast for Washington DC, with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows. There is an Arctic blast sweeping the country,” Trump said as he announced a change in the swearing-in venue to indoors. As per the latest weather forecast, the temperature in Washington DC on Monday is likely to be around -11°C.

“I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!),” Trump told his supporters. Last time the inauguration was held indoors was on January 20, 1985 when the temperature was a little less than -14°C.

The sudden announcement by Trump surprised many, as thousands of his supporters had started landing up in the US Capital from across the country, as scores of events have been planned in the city to celebrate the inauguration of Trump, for the second time, after a gap of four years.

Eight years since its historic first march, the Women's March is returning on Saturday to the nation's capital just before the inauguration.

Women outraged over Trump's 2016 presidential win flocked to Washington in 2017 and organised large rallies. The Washington rally alone attracted over 5,00,000 marchers.

This year, the march is expected to be about one-tenth the size of the first one and comes amid a restrained moment of reflection as many progressive voters navigate feelings of exhaustion, disappointment and despair after Vice President Kamala Harris' loss.