Security is being stepped up for Donald Trump’s inauguration as officials prepare for potential threats, including those posed by “lone actors”.
Trump took to Truth Social to announce the move of his inauguration ceremony indoors due to severe cold expected in Washington DC, citing the weather conditions: “With the windchill, temperatures in DC could hit record lows. There’s an Arctic blast sweeping the country.”
This decision means people attending the event, along with security forces and bystanders, will avoid exposure to extreme cold.
Additionally, it notably decreases the potential risks to Trump on the day.
Some ardent supporters of Trump have speculated that the real reason for relocating the inauguration indoors might be related to a threat to his life rather than the cited icy weather. The speculation comes amid a large demonstration in Washington DC for women’s reproductive rights and other issues, which activists believe are at risk from the soon-to-be Trump administration, reports the Mirror US.
The inaugural ceremony will now take place within the warmth, but extensive security measures are being implemented to guarantee its smooth and safe execution. Concerns over Trump’s safety have been magnified by past attempts on his life during last year’s election campaign.
The U.S. Secret Service is at the helm of this massive National Security Event that sees over 25,000 responders in action. As Trump’s inauguration gears up, it will be fortified with additional concrete barriers and more than 30 miles of anti-scale fencing, a record for any National Special Security Event to date.
Drones will also be deployed, providing an aerial perspective, accompanied by police robots to inspect parcels and locations for hazardous materials. “There’s no stone unturned, there is no threat that is not mitigated,” Washington Special Agent William McCool disclosed on the Today Show.
A total of 40 agencies are primed to oversee and address any problems, with extensive law enforcement presence on the ground.
Local observations in the District of Columbia have captured the setting up of concrete barriers and impenetrable fences around the White House ahead of the event. Officials say the precautionary measures include concrete barriers and garbage trucks to deter unauthorised access, plus 30 miles of seven-foot-tall climb-resistant fencing laid out in the Capitol.
The local law enforcement will also receive a boost from 4,000 additional officers from across the nation, along with 7,800 National Guard soldiers as reported by Newsweek.
Protestors opposing Trump and supporters holding rallies and parties, including a significant Trump rally planned at the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena on Sunday, are set to mark the preceding weekend before Monday’s main events.
However, the most significant threat to safety during the upcoming presidential inauguration events is still the elusive “lone actor.”
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a warning to police across the country on Monday about the risk of copycat attacks similar to the New Orleans incident. U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger referred to two incidents last week on Capitol Hill where individuals attempted to “disrupt” congressional proceedings using potentially violent methods. “The biggest threat, I think, for all of us remains the lone actor,” Manger stated on Monday.
“Just in the past week, while President Carter was lying in state, we had two lone actors show up at the Capitol: one trying to bring in knives and a machete; another one who was trying – what I believe – to disrupt the proceedings by setting their car on fire down in the peace circle area.”
“Capitol Police were able to interdict these folks before they had a chance to do any harm. But that threat of the lone actor remains the biggest justification for us being at this heightened state of alert throughout the next week.”
David Sundberg, Assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, stated that the FBI was “not currently tracking any specific or credible threats to the inaugural ceremony or to the Capitol complex.”
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