Robert Besser
19 Jan 2025, 16:38 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Washington is preparing for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration next week with extensive security measures.
Temporary black fencing, 30 miles long, has been installed, and 25,000 law enforcement officers are ready to manage large crowds. Security checkpoints are in place for the many spectators expected.
The swearing-in will happen on January 20 at the U.S. Capitol steps, followed by a parade to the White House. Events will include protests by opponents and celebrations by supporters.
The lead-up to this inauguration has been tense, marked by two assassination attempts on Trump and violent attacks, including a truck rampage in New Orleans on New Year's Eve that killed 14 people and an explosion outside a Trump-branded hotel in Las Vegas. Officials say there are no specific threats but are concerned about lone attackers.
Downtown Washington will have strict traffic controls, with heavy barriers and concrete blocks. Over 11,000 security personnel, including National Guard troops, will be deployed.
While some city residents plan to leave or stay home to avoid disruptions, tens of thousands of visitors are expected for the inauguration and related events. About 70 percent of hotel rooms are booked, lower than the occupancy rates for Trump's 2017 inauguration or Barack Obama's second one in 2013.
Trump's 2017 inauguration saw large protests and counter-protests. His former spokesman, Sean Spicer, controversially claimed that the crowd on the National Mall was "the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration - period," despite photos showing otherwise.
The next day, the Women's March brought hundreds of thousands of people to Washington, with many more joining similar events across the country.
For this year's inauguration, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith expects a smaller crowd of 25,000 for the anti-Trump People's March on Saturday. Thousands more are expected at nearly a dozen other protests and rallies between January 18 and 20, including a Trump rally at the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena on January 19.
Officials have planned extensively to address potential risks, with no significant coordinated threats identified so far.
Juliette Kayyem, a Harvard professor and former Homeland Security official, said authorities are following standard procedures to prepare for any possible situations.
"What you are planning for is a worst-case scenario, but my suspicion is you are not going to get it, which is good," Kayyem said. "In terms of planning, it is always easier to ratchet down than ratchet up."
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