Preparations for President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration in Washington, D.C. are in full swing. The city is bracing itself with 30 miles of black temporary fencing, 25,000 law enforcement officers, and stringent security measures to accommodate the large crowds expected to attend the event. The swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, followed by a parade to the White House, will take place amidst protests by Trump’s opponents and rallies by his supporters over the weekend.
The heightened security measures are in response to a turbulent campaign season that saw two attempts on Trump’s life, including an incident where his ear was grazed by a bullet. Additionally, there were tragic attacks on civilians, with one involving a truck ramming into a crowd in New Orleans resulting in multiple casualties, and another incident where a U.S. Army soldier detonated a vehicle outside a Trump-branded hotel in Las Vegas.
U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool emphasized the increased security risks surrounding the inauguration. While there haven’t been any specific threats identified, security officials remain concerned about potential lone wolf attacks. Recent incidents, such as individuals attempting to bring weapons into the Capitol and ignite fires near the area, highlight the ongoing security challenges.
Authorities are on high alert for copycat attacks and have implemented strict security measures across downtown Washington, including road closures and the installation of unclimbable fencing. Thousands of National Guard troops and officers from various police departments have been deployed to bolster security.
Despite the security precautions, thousands of people are expected to attend the inauguration and associated events in the city. The atmosphere is tense, with fears of potential disruptions and the need for vigilance in the face of security threats.
Just before the start of last week, data from Smith Travel Research, provided to Reuters by Destination DC, Washington’s official tourism organization, revealed interesting insights. Hotel occupancy stood at approximately 95% during Trump’s inauguration in 2017, whereas it was around 78% during former President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
MARCHES AND RALLIES
Trump’s inauguration in 2017 was marked by significant protests and counter-protests. Sean Spicer, Trump’s former spokesman, made a notable statement at the beginning of his tenure, claiming – despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary – that the crowd on the National Mall was “the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration – period.”
The day after Trump’s inauguration, the Women’s March brought together hundreds of thousands of individuals on the streets of Washington, with even more participating in solidarity events across the nation. A smaller crowd of 25,000 is anticipated to join the anti-Trump People’s March on DC on Saturday, as noted by Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith on Monday.
Thousands are projected to participate in nearly a dozen other protests or rallies authorized by local officials between Saturday and Monday. Notably, a Trump rally at the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena is scheduled for Sunday.
Juliette Kayyem, a Harvard Kennedy School professor who previously served as a homeland security official during the Obama administration, commented on the preparations made by officials. She highlighted the importance of planning for worst-case scenarios while expressing optimism that such scenarios might not materialize. Kayyem emphasized that it is always preferable to scale down preparations rather than escalate them.
The reporting was conducted by Gabriella Borter and Andrew Goudsward in Washington, with editing by Scott Malone and Matthew Lewis.
