Maryvile, TN – Several Tennesseans who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Inauguration of President Donald Trump were left disappointed after the ceremony was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda because of cold weather. Despite the change of venue, many attendees understood the necessity of the decision, as weather conditions made an outdoor event unfeasible.
Michael Grider, the owner of Foothills Strategies, was one of those affected by the last-minute adjustment. Grider, who arrived in the capital several days before the event, had secured seats for the inauguration through Congressman John Rose’s office. However, he was forced to watch the ceremony from a different location when the festivities were moved indoors.
“My wife and I had seats from Congressman John Rose’s office for the inauguration here at the Capitol and were disappointed to hear the inauguration festivities were moved indoors because of weather,” Grider said. “It’s very cold, so I totally understand it.”
Grider, who also attended the 2020 inauguration of President Joe Biden, noted that the excitement surrounding an inauguration is palpable each year. “Everyone’s excited about the inauguration and everything it means for the city—the peaceful transition of power and for our country,” he said.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, another Tennessean who had planned to attend, also found himself on the outside looking in due to the change of venue. Mayor Jacobs expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to the many people who had come to D.C. specifically to witness the swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol.
“That’s unfortunate,” Mayor Jacobs remarked. “One thing I do feel bad about is that a lot of folks had come up here specifically to see the swearing-in on the steps of the Capitol. There’s a lot of other things happening, but nevertheless, I wish that could’ve happened for those folks.”
While Grider and Jacobs were not inside the Capitol Rotunda during the ceremony, they both noted the heavy security presence throughout the city. Grider commented on the challenges of navigating the Capitol, as security measures limited access and movement.
“Access is very limited,” Grider said. “Getting around the Capitol is a big challenge. That’s not because of the weather; it’s because of security.”
The tight security measures were a common sight throughout the city, a reminder of the heightened precautions in place for the high-profile event. Despite the changes to the ceremony, the spirit of the inauguration remained strong, as D.C. became the focal point of the nation’s attention once again.
