Once word spread like wildfire around Washington and the nation that President Trump’s inauguration would be moved indoors, the hundreds of thousands of people who were descending on DC quickly moved on to one important question:
“Where are we going to find a warm spot to watch the Inauguration?”
The seating capacity for the Capital One Arena in Washington is approximately 20,356. Most definitely not enough room to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the country and world to attend.
The heart of Washington near Congress, The Mall, the White House, and Capital One Arena were on strict lockdown. Massive metal barricades penned people out and kept police in, while military-grade armored trucks from the National Guard blocked exits.
One popular viewing spot was the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, previously home to the Trump International Hotel.
Xiomara Bourgeois from Louisiana is one of the many who had a ticket to witness the Inauguration in person, but Mother Nature had other plans.
“I was going to be at the Capitol outside. I was here for his first inauguration. This is the next best thing,” said Bourgeois.
Temperatures hit a balmy 48-degrees for President Trump’s Inauguration in 2017. The 2025 Inauguration will go down in the history books as the fourth coldest in history at 27-degrees. The “real feel” factoring the wind clocked in at 14-degrees.
“I’m excited. Happy to be here. I met some great people. It’s truly a blessing to be a special part of a historic moment,” said Rachel Mondsir
“I feel great again, because America is great again. It's a big blessing. A double portion, right here around the people, around ‘We the People.’” I was never involved in politics. The first time I ever got involved was when Trump came into office,” said Maurice Delk from Wisconsin.
The South Shore Press spotted a wide range of “who’s who” in the political and acting arenas at the Waldorf Astoria, including Ambassador Richard “Ric” Grenell, Trump Senior Advisor Chris LaCivita, cook and television personality Paula Dean, and Hollywood actor Robert Davi.
Davi, known for his roles in movies like “Goonies” and “Die Hard,” spoke to the South Shore Press about the peaceful transfer of power from the Biden to the Trump administration.
“We knew how contentious the election was, how the left and the right have different ideals. This was amazing to see, and so touching for our nation, because we are the greatest country on earth, in spite of some out there that don't think America is exceptional. We are exceptional. Today is the new era of American exceptionalism," concluded Davi.