Washington D.C. is gearing up for the highly anticipated inauguration, with law enforcement sealing off major streets to ensure public safety during the influx of crowds.
Authorities have erected fences and barricades around key landmarks such as the Capitol, the White House, and Capital One Arena in anticipation of the event. Efforts are still underway, with workers installing barriers around Capital One Arena as the inauguration address and other speeches are moved inside the Capitol Rotunda.
The arena has become a focal point, hosting a rally by President-elect Donald Trump and accommodating an estimated 20,000 attendees. To bolster security, the perimeter has been expanded and additional checkpoints established following the recent terror attack in New Orleans, according to Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Washington field office.
In addition to police officers, National Guard units are heavily present around the arena. On Inauguration Day, Monday, about 25,000 law enforcement personnel will be on duty. Several subway stations, bridges, and ramps from Virginia to Washington D.C. will be closed to manage the massive crowd movement.
Despite the high turnout, thousands could not gain entry to the Trump rally due to limited capacity and inclement weather that saw rain and snow falling over the capital. Leah Aguanno, a Trump supporter from Westfield, New Jersey, exemplified the dedication of attendees, waiting hours in line with a Trump-Vance flag in hand.
\"I'm still happy to be here to be part of this. It's a moment in history, and I'm expecting great changes tomorrow after Trump is in office,\" Aguanno commented.
As President-elect Trump is set to be sworn in at noon with temperatures around minus five degrees Celsius, Washington D.C. remains a hub of anticipation and security.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
