Thousands of Pennsylvanians bound for Washington won’t be able to see Trump’s inauguration live

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to move his inaugural ceremonies inside will protect thousands from the dangerous cold — but it also means most people bound for here won’t be able to attend the festivities.

Trump announced on Friday that the swearing-in would move from the steps of the Capitol, where risers and a huge stage had already been erected, into the Capitol rotunda given temperatures as low as 15 degrees slated for Monday.

“I don’t want people hurt or injured in any way,” he posted on Truth Social.

It’s the first time the ceremony won’t take place outside of the Capitol since 1985 when Ronald Reagan moved his second inaugural inside.

The Joint Inaugural Committee said Saturday that due to the change, the “vast majority of ticketed guests will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person.” Only people who had tickets to the presidential platform and members of Congress can attend in person, the committee said.

“We strongly suggest people who are in Washington for the event attend other indoor events at indoor venues of their choice to watch the inauguration,” the committee said.

More than 200,000 tickets were issued for the inaugural celebration when it was outside — and for the parade, which would have wound from the Capitol to the White House.

Now the parade and a livestreamed watch party have been moved to the Capital One Arena, which has a capacity of 20,000. Sen. Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) posted on X Sunday the Capital One Arena will open at 7 a.m. Monday and access will be on a first-come basis.

Members of Congress who get several hundred tickets each to give to constituents were instructed to tell ticket holders those tickets are now “commemorative,” since the majority won’t be granted access.

In an email to House offices, the House sergeant-at-arms asked that constituents be told their tickets will no longer get them access to watch the proceedings in person.

“Because of the cold weather, the inauguration will be held inside at the Capitol Rotunda. Tickets won in our office lottery are now commemorative and can’t be used to attend the ceremony,” U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D., Pa.) posted on X.

Mary Gay Scanlon, a Democrat who represents parts of Delaware County, said Friday shortly after the decision was made that her office had given out about 250 tickets that were no longer valid.

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R., Pa.) said Friday his office fielded 2,000 requests for about 200 tickets.

“Pennsylvanians worked very hard to get the win in Pennsylvania,” Meuser said Friday, noting help by “10,000 plus” volunteers, including “people that were never involved in politics before.”

And “it’s reflected in how many people we have coming down from Pennsylvania,” he said.

Joseph Soliziz, a lawyer for the oil and gas industry, came up from Houston after getting tickets for the inauguration. His plan now was to try and get into the Capital One Arena by getting there bright and early Monday. But he said his spirits weren’t dampened.

“The atmosphere is so positive,” he said at Union Station after buying a new Trump 47 ball cap.

Lori Boddy, 66, and Marjorie Shelp, 72, friends from South Carolina, took photos in rain that was turning to hail outside of the Capitol.

”We were really, really disappointed and at first I thought like, do we even go?” Boddy said. “But we’re going to the Palmetto Ball and a watch party and just being in D.C. when this is happening, I could cry just talking about it.”

Shelp, who is originally from Quakertown but moved to South Carolina four years ago, said coming to Washington was about showing support for Trump, whose campaign she volunteered with.

”You know he wanted his people here with him,” she said. “He’s fought long and hard to get here.”