If you were looking at the official plans for the second inauguration of Donald Trump event locations back in late 2024, you probably had a very specific image in mind. You likely pictured the massive white stage on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, the sprawling crowds on the National Mall, and the iconic walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.
But history—and the weather—had other plans.
Basically, the 60th Presidential Inauguration became one of the most unique logistical puzzles in modern D.C. history. Frigid temperatures and high winds forced a last-minute scramble that moved the main swearing-in ceremony indoors. It’s only the second time this has happened in the last forty years, echoing Ronald Reagan’s 1985 "deep freeze" inauguration.
If you're trying to piece together where everything actually took place, you've gotta look at a map that stretches from the historic halls of the Capitol to a basketball arena and the massive convention center down the street.
The U.S. Capitol Rotunda: The New Center Stage
For months, workers spent millions of dollars building a massive outdoor platform. Then, on January 17, just three days before the big day, Trump made the call to move it all inside. Honestly, it was a safety issue. When the wind chill hits those levels, you can’t have 90-year-old dignitaries sitting outside for three hours.
So, the United States Capitol Rotunda became the primary location for the swearing-in. It was intimate, sure, but it also meant that thousands of people who had tickets for the West Front were suddenly left out in the cold—literally. Only about 600 to 750 people could fit inside the Rotunda. We’re talking family, the Supreme Court, and some very high-profile tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
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The swearing-in ceremony at 12:00 p.m. featured:
- Chief Justice John Roberts administering the oath to Donald Trump.
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh swearing in JD Vance.
- Lee Greenwood and Carrie Underwood performing under the massive dome.
The Statuary Hall Luncheon
Right after the swearing-in, the group didn’t have to go far. The traditional Inaugural Luncheon stayed within the Capitol, specifically in National Statuary Hall. This is where the new President and Vice President eat with leaders of Congress. It’s a bit of a "peace pipe" moment before the political battles of the next four years start up again.
Capital One Arena: The People's Parade
This is where things got really weird—and kinda cool, depending on who you ask. Usually, the parade is a slow crawl down Pennsylvania Avenue with the President waving from a limo. Because of the weather, the "parade" was essentially moved to Capital One Arena.
Instead of freezing on the sidewalk, supporters packed the arena to watch a live broadcast of the swearing-in and then a modified indoor parade. Trump actually left the Capitol after his official duties and showed up at the arena to join the crowd. It felt more like one of his rallies than a stiff, traditional government ceremony.
Expert Note: While the "official" parade route technically exists on Pennsylvania Avenue for historical records, the actual performances and the bulk of the "viewing experience" for the 2025 event centered on the Arena.
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The Nightlife: Three Official Balls
Once the sun went down and the temperature dropped even further, the party moved to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. In 2017, there were a bunch of balls, but for the second go-round, the focus was narrowed down to three official events.
1. The Commander-in-Chief Ball
This one is always the most "buttoned-up" because it’s for military members and their families. It happened at the Convention Center, featuring performances by Rascal Flatts. Trump and Melania did their first dance here to "An American Trilogy."
2. The Liberty Ball
This was the big one for the donors and the MAGA faithful. If you saw photos of people posing with a fake "mugshot" backdrop, that was here. It was a massive celebration with Jason Aldean and the Village People (yes, they actually showed up and performed "Y.M.C.A.").
3. The Starlight Ball
The third official ball was also held within the same massive convention complex. This one felt a bit more like a mix of political elite and "new media" celebrities. You had folks like podcaster Theo Von and musician Gavin DeGraw in the mix.
Pre-Inauguration and Side Events
You can't talk about the second inauguration of Donald Trump event locations without mentioning the spots that saw action before January 20th.
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- Arlington National Cemetery: On January 19, Trump and Vance visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a wreath-laying ceremony. This is a standard tradition, but they notably brought along family members of the victims of the 2021 Kabul airport attack.
- St. John’s Episcopal Church: On the morning of the 20th, the Trumps attended service at "The Church of the Presidents," just across from the White House.
- The White House: Before heading to the Capitol, the Trumps met with the Bidens for tea. It’s that awkward but necessary tradition that signifies the peaceful transfer of power.
- Trump National Golf Club, Sterling: Many of the high-end donor receptions and the "Cabinet Dinner" on the Saturday before the inauguration took place here, away from the prying eyes of the D.C. press corps.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Locations
A lot of people think that "The National Mall" is the location of the inauguration. It’s not. The Mall is where the crowd stands. The inauguration itself happens on the Capitol grounds.
In 2025, because of the move to the Rotunda, the National Mall was actually quite empty compared to previous years. Since the big screens were the only way to see anything, many people just opted to go to the Capital One Arena or stay in their hotels. If you were standing on the Mall that day, you were basically just standing in a very cold, very windy park watching a screen.
Actionable Insights for Future Visitors
If you're planning to attend a future inauguration—or just visiting these historic sites—keep these things in mind:
- The "West Front" is the default. Unless it's 20 degrees out, that’s where you want to be. But always have a "Plan B" (like a hotel with a good TV) if the weather turns.
- Security is no joke. During the 2025 event, the "Red Zone" and "Green Zone" perimeters made it almost impossible to move between the Capitol and the Convention Center without a specialized pass or a two-mile walk around the fencing.
- The Rotunda is usually open to the public. While you can't go in on Inauguration Day, you can book a tour through your Congressperson any other time of the year to see exactly where the 47th President took the oath.
- Check the JCCIC website. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is the only official source for where these things happen. Don't trust third-party ticket "brokers" who claim to have seats for the Rotunda—they almost certainly don't.
If you want to understand the physical footprint of power in D.C., start by visiting the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and then walk up to the Capitol. Seeing the distance between the two gives you a real sense of the scale of these events.