MAGA fans may not be able to witness the real inauguration on Monday because there are concerns it might be too cold.
The Constitution's January 20 inauguration date has forced presidents to face frosty temperatures in the nation's Capitol. In the past several years, the platform has been peppered with space heaters, ensuring that the VIP audience has a little extra help with their coats or Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-VT) famous mittens.
One inauguration was so cold that former President William Henry Harrison developed a cold and died from pneumonia a month later.
But the incoming president adopted a snowbird lifestyle, moving to Florida for the winter. Wild weather has erupted in Washington, D.C. since the 2024 election, with lightning hitting the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol. On Jan. 6, 2025, Congress was tasked with certifying the election, but Washington was forced to shut down after snow blanketed the city.
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During President Barack Obama's 2012 inauguration, wind-chill temperatures were around 15 degrees when the public began making their way through the security. By the time the ceremony began, the temperature was 28 degrees, however, reported the Florida Times-Union at the time.
While Trump's big day is expected to be in the teens, it doesn't compare to Ronald Reagan's second inauguration temperature, which was minus 2 degrees. His was the last inauguration to be moved indoors, the report recalled. Temperatures are expected on Monday at 9 a.m. at 20 with an ultimate high on Monday of 24 degrees, the Weather Channel says in its 10-day forecast.
"The weather forecast for Washington, DC is predicting brutally cold temperatures — in the low teens — on Inauguration Day. Good," said Democratic strategist Jon Cooper with a gif of a frozen Jack Nicholson.
"Soft and old Trump can't handle a little cold," said Democratic strategist Andy Suchorski.
Cybersecurity expert Jeffrey Levy asked, "How can he take over Greenland if he can't even handle 20 degree weather?"
"So much for crowd size," says former Republican Party chairman Michael Steele on MSNBC.
"The forecast temperature is just a few degrees colder than Obama's 2008 inauguration (28º) which was held outside. It would make the MAGA crowd really mad if the narrative around this becomes that Trump is too weak to handle the cold," said University of Maryland professor Dr. Jen Golbeck.
Democratic Coalition founder Scott Dworkin called Trump a "big baby" and said the real reason is Trump "didn't want the visuals of another small crowd. Pathetic."
Writer Mark Harris, called it a "Terribly weak and embarrassing move. He should be a man, like William Henry Harrison."
Similarly, another critic mocked Trump with a GIF of Eric Cartman saying, "That's weak."
"The cold plunge crew can't handle a winter inauguration?" asked Rolling Stone reporter Tim Dickerson.