Trump and other world leaders will be heavily guarded by thousands of police officers, soldiers, and FBI agents to ensure maximum security during the inauguration. The authorities are preparing for potential unrest and violence during the event, hence the enhanced security measures.
To strengthen security, there will be two FBI command centers, a fleet of drones, and 30 miles of fencing that is nearly impossible to climb. The fear of terrorist threats looms large over the proceedings, prompting officials to ramp up security to unprecedented levels.
‘PREPARED’ FOR THE WORST
On Monday the Republican will be sworn-in as the 45th President of the United States,
Trump announced on Friday that the inauguration would be moved inside due to dangerously cold temperatures sweeping Washington.
Trump will be sworn in and participate in the parade within the secure confines of the Capitol Rotunda building, a tradition followed by past presidents like Ronald Reagan in 1985. Spectators will have the opportunity to witness the events live from the Capital One Arena through a live stream.
Nearly 8,000 soldiers have been carted into Washington to support the 25,000-strong police force circling the President-elect, along with National Guard members from every state.
Local and federal officials revealed they are “prepared” for the worst – despite receiving no specific threats against the President-elect.
An enormous circle of garbage trucks, concrete blocks and two-metre-high black fencing will create a blockade around the area – the longest ever erected in Washington.
A large chunk of the city two miles either side of the White House will be on lockdown and closed to all traffic.
Attendees will be funnelled through militant checkpoints and subjected to airport-style searches.
The strict list of banned items includes laptops, selfie sticks, banners and even water bottles.
A temporary flight restriction is in place for the skies over Washington, clearing the way for a swarm of surveillance drones that will give officials hawk-eye vision.
The FBI chillingly warned cops across the country of the risk of copycat assassination attempts.
Matt McCool, Secret Service Special Agent in Charge, admitted: “We are in a higher-threat environment.”
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said: “That threat of the lone actor remains the biggest justification for us being at this heightened state of alert throughout the next week.”
TRUMP’S NEAR-MISSES
Officials are preparing to defend against a lone-wolf style attack after multiple assassination attempts on Trump last year.
In July 2024, Thomas Crooks shot Donald Trump in the ear after hiding on a roof overlooking the former President’s outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
This appeared to spark a flurry of future assassination attempts, with the last known plot uncovered in November last year.
Timeline of assassination attempts on Donald Trump
July 13 – Thomas Crooks shot Donald Trump in the ear after hiding on a roof overlooking the former President’s outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Crooks was killed by Secret Service snipers after he fired eight shots at Trump and killed one rallygoer and injured two others.
The bullet came less than a quarter of an inch from striking Trump’s head, Ronny Jackson, the former president’s physician, said.
September 15 – Ryan Routh was seen by a Secret Service agent hiding in the bushes with a rifle at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida.
Trump was playing a round of golf when the alleged would-be assassin managed to get within 400 yard of Trump.
Routh fled the scene in an SUV but was caught by cops and arrested.
September 25 – Donald Trump posts on social media that he’s been informed of an Iranian plot against his life.
October 7 – Farhad Shakeri is given an order by an official in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to come up with a plan to kill Donald Trump within seven days.
He told the FBI that he never intended to devise a plan in that timeframe, but allegedly discussed it with two hired guns in New York.
November 7 – Carlisle Rivera of Brooklyn and Jonathan Loadholt of Staten Island are arrested in New York for being part of the plot to kill Donald Trump along with three other Americans Iran deemed targets.
A pair of New Year’s Day attacks on ordinary Americans have also heightened fears of a potential attack on the inauguration.
In one, 14 people were tragically killed and dozens injured when a US Army veteran rammed a truck into a crowd of New Year’s Eve revelers in New Orleans.
That same day, an active-duty US Army soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside a Trump-branded hotel in Las Vegas, killing himself.
Meanwhile two security scares occurred in the Capitol last week -putting officials on ultra-high alert.
One man was arrested trying to smuggle a machete and three knives into the federal building last week, while another was caught sparking a fire nearby.
SUPPORTERS FLOCK
Hundreds of thousands of supporters are expected to flock to the Capitol on Monday to partake in the celebrations – although they will now be watching from indoor venues around the city.
A large number of spectators will gather in the Capital One Arena to watch a live stream of Trump swearing the oath of office inside the Capitol Rotunda building.
Around a whopping 70 per cent of Washington’s 34,500 hotel rooms were booked for the night of the inauguration and the night before as of last week.
On Saturday – two days before the inauguration – a mass “People’s March” protest is planned in opposition to the election victory.
Numerous groups are uniting including reproductive rights activists from Planned Parenthood, the National Women’s Law Centre, Abortion Access Now and the Women’s March.
Muriel Bowser, Washington DC Mayor, said the full force of the city’s security systems was primed to enforce calm and control.
She said: “Every four years, the District is proud to support the peaceful transition of power.
“We take pride in this responsibility, and we’re grateful to our federal partners, local agencies, and community members who work together to ensure a safe and secure event.”
Joe Biden’s 2020 inauguration was also heavily guarded, coming just two weeks after the January 6 Capitol protests, but crowds were cut back due to ongoing Covid restrictions.
TERROR FEARS LOOM
Officials for Monday’s ceremony face far larger numbers and a whole new kind of security threat.
Matthew Young, a Secret Service agent, said this year’s operation had to be “adjusted” in the wake of the New Orleans attack.
There has been a string of officially-designated National Special Security events this month, after the certification of the election result on January 6 and the state funeral of Jimmy Carter three days later.
Matt McCool said: “This [cluster of security events] has never happened before, but we’re flexible and adaptable.
“We’re going to be prepared.”
Trump has praised the Secret Service, tasked with keeping him alive, for ramping up its security after he was nearly shot in the head by an assassin on the campaign trail in July.
The elite squad foiled a second attempt on his life by an armed man hiding out in the bushes of his Florida golf course.
After Trump has been sworn in, he and First Lady Melania will arrive at the White House and settle in for a second time.
She said on Monday that she’s already designed the home’s private spaces for her husband’s second term.
Melania told Fox News: “I already packed, I already selected the furniture that needs to go in.
“So it’s a very different transition this time, second time around.”
Body language expert unpicks Trump’s ‘tough guy’ new official portrait
By Sayan Bose, Foreign News Reporter
DONALD Trump’s tough guy expressions in the new presidential portrait show he is on a path to “vengeance” against his enemies, a top body language expert has revealed.
Trump also adopted the “angry populist” stance in the new picture – a stark shift from his previous portrait and has decided “not to play nice”, according to expert Erik Bucy.
Trump has made a bold statement after ditching his smile for the new presidential portrait ahead of the inauguration ceremony on January 20.
He seems to have recreated his historic scowling mugshot that broke the internet in 2023.
In the new presidential portrait, Trump has a glowering face as he appears to look straight into the camera, like a tough guy.
With a squinted eye and slightly furrowed brow, he makes a strong and assertive expression, says Mr Erik after analyzing the picture.
He told The US Sun: “Trump’s new portrait portends a kind of vengeance against perceived enemies, whether foreign or domestic.
“Presidents who lack smiles and refuse to appear likeable come across as defiant and grievance-ridden.”
Trump sensationally defied the odds to be re-elected as US President after a nail-biting election.
The two assassination attempts, criminal charges and loads of trash talk failed to dampen his parade as he again clinched the keys to the White House.
As he takes on as the 47th president of the US, he now intends to settle scores, says Mr Erik.
“The grievances he enumerated at rallies throughout his 2024 campaign all come home to roost in this one image of a somber Trump with a squinted right eye, communicating that he intends to settle scores, ” the expert said.
“He has decided he’s not playing nice, and there’s no need to pretend any longer. He’s channeling the angry populist here,” he added.
