Cold front in Washington: Trump makes a big decision, a first in 40 years
On Monday morning, the day of Donald Trump's inauguration, it will be -12 degrees C, and -6 degrees at noon, exactly when the president-elect is due to be sworn in.
On Friday, Donald Trump announced that his inauguration would be held inside the Capitol, the first time this has happened in 40 years. “An arctic wind is sweeping the country. I have therefore decided that the inaugural address will be given in the Capitol Rotunda, as was the case for Ronald Reagan in 1985, because of the extreme cold,” he wrote on his Truth Social network.
As Paris Match points out, this disruption of protocol means that the tribune, who must traditionally take the oath of office on the Bible, won't take place on the outdoor steps of the Capitol overlooking the immense National Mall.
At the same time, the Republican billionaire confided that he was concerned about “dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands” of law enforcement personnel, “the horses”, as well as “hundreds of thousands” of spectators forced to be “outside for hours on end”.
The upheaval could well turn into a logistical headache.
Despite everything, Donald Trump's enthusiasm remains undiminished, as he proudly declares: “It will be a magnificent popular experience, especially for the very large audience (expected) on TV.”
(MH with Manon Pierre - Source : Paris Match - Illustration : Unsplash)