Washington Ramps Up Security for Trump’s Inauguration
AFP/APP
Washington: With extensive fencing, drones, and a force of 25,000 security personnel, the US capital is gearing up for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration under heightened security measures following a turbulent election cycle.
While Washington is no stranger to high-profile events, the inauguration on January 20 will be the third major “national special security event” in just two weeks, following the certification of the election results on January 6 and the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.
This year’s inauguration is expected to draw fewer visitors than Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, when up to a million people were anticipated. Nevertheless, security measures are on a scale not seen before, with a record 30 miles (48 kilometers) of anti-scale fencing being erected around key sites, including the White House, Capitol, and parts of Pennsylvania Avenue.
According to US Secret Service special agent Matt McCool, about 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel are converging on Washington. The heightened security includes extensive checks, rooftop snipers, tactical teams, and drones patrolling the skies.
“We are in a higher threat environment,” McCool said, acknowledging the violence that marred the 2020 election and incidents such as an assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. Recent attacks, including a truck ramming incident in New Orleans and an explosion in Las Vegas, have only intensified security concerns.
While authorities have not identified any credible threats to the inauguration, US Capitol Police chief J. Thomas Manger emphasized that the biggest risk remains from lone actors. Approximately 250,000 ticketed guests are expected to attend the event.
Despite tensions with Washington’s Democratic mayor Muriel Bowser, she pledged the city’s full support for a peaceful transition of power. Bowser reiterated that “every four years, our city supports the peaceful transition of power,” stressing that violence would not be tolerated.
A series of protests are anticipated, including a Saturday “People’s March” to the Lincoln Memorial, and a MAGA rally with Trump on Sunday. Smaller demonstrations are also planned for Inauguration Day.
For those attending or watching from outside, cold weather is expected, with temperatures predicted to stay well below freezing.
Hotel occupancy in downtown Washington for Inauguration eve stands at 70 percent, according to data firm STR, lower than the 92 percent during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017. High-end hotels, such as the Watergate, have rolled out lavish inauguration packages, including a $73,500 “Head of State” experience.
