Trump dramatically scales back inauguration plans as hotel occupancies stall: reports

Donald Trump drastically scaled back plans for his inauguration as hotel occupancies stalled just days ahead of his return to the White House.

The president-elect was infamously touchy about the crowd size at his first inauguration in 2017, and hotel occupancy rates in Washington, D.C., are hovering just above 70 percent with three days until he takes the oath of office again and bitterly cold temperatures forecast for Monday, so Trump announced that he would instead move the ceremony indoors to the U.S. Capitol.

"January 20th cannot come fast enough!" Trump posted on Truth Social. "Everybody, even those that initially opposed a Victory by President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Administration, just want it to happen."

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"It is my obligation to protect the People of our Country but, before we even begin, we have to think of the Inauguration itself," Trump added. "The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows. There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way. It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!). Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather."

Reagan took the oath of office Jan. 20, 1985, at the White House and then repeated the ceremony the following day in the Capitol Rotunda, due to daytime temperatures of 7°F and wind chills of −25°F, and Trump described plans for similar changes to the typically outdoor event.

"The various Dignitaries and Guests will be brought into the Capitol," Trump posted. "This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience! We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade. I will join the crowd at Capital One [Arena], after my Swearing In. All other events will remain the same, including the Victory Rally at Capital One Arena, on Sunday at 3 P.M. (Doors open at 1 P.M.—Please arrive early!), and all three Inaugural Balls on Monday evening. Everyone will be safe, everyone will be happy, and we will, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

The president-elect's first White House press secretary Sean Spicer torched his credibility right off the bat by claiming Trump's relatively sparsely attended 2017 inauguration was "the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period," but massive protests in Washington, D.C., helped drive hotel occupancy rates to 95 percent – while this year they're holding steady at 74 percent.

Second-term inaugurations usually have lesser attendance than a president's first. For example, hotel occupancy rates were 97.2 percent for Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009, but that rate plunged to 78 percent for his second inauguration in 2013.