Special Poll
- Inauguration Moved Indoors: President-elect Donald Trump announced that due to “very cold weather,” his January 20 inauguration will be held indoors. This decision followed forecasts predicting the coldest inauguration day in 40 years.
- Social Media Reaction: Following the announcement, Trump faced criticism on social media. Commentators questioned whether the move was genuinely due to the weather.
- Historical Precedent: Critics like David Axelrod highlighted that past presidents, such as John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama, withstood colder temperatures for their outdoor inaugurations.
- Safety Concerns: Trump cited safety for attendees and law enforcement as reasons for the indoor ceremony, referring to “dangerous conditions” due to an “Arctic blast.”
- Criticisms of Toughness: Social media users and political figures mocked the decision, contrasting Trump’s image as a “tough guy” with his choice to move the event indoors.
- Minnesota Governor’s Jab: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz humorously commented on the situation, sharing a photo in snow flurries and remarking, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”
- Crowd Size Concerns: The discussion also revived Trump’s preoccupation with inauguration crowd sizes, a contentious issue since his first term began.
- Historical Editing: It was revealed that a U.S. government photographer had edited official inauguration photos to enhance the appearance of the crowd size, following internal pressures.
- Obama’s Commentary: Former President Obama mocked Trump’s fixation on crowd sizes at the Democratic National Convention, humorously insinuating it represented deeper personal insecurities.