Could Trump Inauguration Be Somewhere Other Than DC?

I ordinarily wouldn’t write an entire article on pure speculation like this, but I found the idea fascinating and I think it’s compelling enough that I wanted to further the discussion.

What’s the #1 immediate goal we all have?

Getting President Trump inaugurated and seated as the 47th President.

That’s it.

Not pomp and circumstance.

Not a party.

It’s simply getting him in and getting to work on Day 1, Hour 1.

So that’s why this caught my eye so much:

Dear President Trump

Please do not be inaugurated in Washington DC on January 20 Yes it’s perfectly legal. You don’t have to be on the steps.https://t.co/pmIYiARUur

— USMC Lady Vet 🇺🇸 (@Arkypatriot) January 2, 2025

Credit to @Arkypatriot on X for starting this great discussion!

It’s true, there is no legal or Constitutional requirement that the Inauguration must be held in D.C.

In fact, courtesy of Grok, President Trump would be in good company with George Washington, John Adams, FDR, LBJ and Chester Arthur, Teddy Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge all being sworn in at places other than Washington D.C.:

Yes, the presidential inauguration can be held at locations other than the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Historically, inaugurations have taken place in various locations due to circumstances like the construction of the Capitol, security concerns, or the death of a president-elect. Here are some examples:

• George Washington was inaugurated in New York City at Federal Hall in 1789, as Washington, D.C. was not yet the capital.
• John Adams was also sworn in Philadelphia at Congress Hall in 1797 for the same reason.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt had his fourth inauguration at the White House on January 20, 1945, due to wartime conditions.
• Lyndon B. Johnson took the oath of office on Air Force One in Dallas, Texas, following the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.
• Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, and Calvin Coolidge were all sworn in outside of D.C. due to the death of their predecessors.

These instances show that while the Capitol is the traditional and symbolic location for inaugurations, legal and practical considerations can shift the ceremony elsewhere. However, since the 20th Amendment mandates that the president’s term begins at noon on January 20, and given the ceremonial nature of the event, the Capitol is overwhelmingly the chosen location in modern times, with exceptions being rare and usually due to extraordinary circumstances

While rare, it is possible and not legally required to be in D.C.

Yes, I realize great work and preparation has already gone into preparations for D.C., but what is more important?  Sunk costs or the safety and security of President Trump?

He already narrowly survived an assassination attempt by mere centimeters when his Rally in Butler, PA was known in advance.

How much more so will this one be pre-planned with everything known in advance?

How many “sloped roofs” in DC could be blamed for the Secret Service being MIA?

I actually love this idea.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

What do you think?