BY KENT GRAY
Cold weather and snow didn’t dampen the enthusiasm at America’s 60th Presidential Inauguration. President Trump and Vice President Vance were sworn in on Monday, January 20, amid a flurry of parties, receptions, dinners, and black-tie balls. The traditional outdoor swearing-in ceremony was moved inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to the below-freezing temperatures—the coldest since the Reagan years. Just a week prior, a snowstorm had blanketed the nation’s capital with the heaviest snowfall seen since President Kennedy’s inauguration.
Despite the double weather whammy, hundreds of thousands traveled to Washington to celebrate the 45th and 47th Presidents of the United States. Several Springfield residents attended various inaugural events, including longtime Trump campaign member Kent Gray and his son, Harrison Gray. Kent served on the Presidential Inaugural Committee fundraising and event staff, spending nearly two weeks in the capital assisting with preparations.
The weekend was jam-packed with events across the city. The “official” schedule kicked off on Saturday with the Cabinet Reception and Vice President’s Dinner. Held in the stunning National Gallery of Art along the National Mall, the reception welcomed a couple thousand of the President’s supporters. At the same time, as these events honored Vice President J.D. Vance, President Trump hosted an ultra-exclusive Presidential Reception at his golf club in Virginia.
On Sunday, a raucous Make America Great Again rally filled the Capital One Arena with tens of thousands of MAGA supporters. That evening, the traditional Inaugural Candlelight Dinner brought together 2,500 of the Inaugural Committee’s largest political and financial supporters at the grand and historic Pension Building.
Beyond the official Inaugural Committee events, the weekend featured numerous receptions, dinners, and balls hosted by state societies, lobbying associations, ideological groups, state political parties, and congressional offices. Texas once again held its perennially popular Black Tie and Boots gala. RFK Jr. headlined the Make America Healthy Again Ball. South Carolina hosted its Palmetto Ball at the exquisite National Portrait Gallery, while the Illinois State Society co-sponsored a Midwest Inaugural Ball.
January 20 dawned bright and sunny—but bitterly cold! The temperature in Washington, D.C., had plummeted, making it the second-coldest inauguration in history. The extreme cold forced Monday’s swearing-in ceremony and inaugural parade indoors. The Capitol Rotunda became the stage for the first swearing-in ceremony held inside since 1985. While magnificent, the space could only accommodate about 400 people—not even the entire Congress could fit in the ornate room.
Making the best of a challenging situation, Capital One Arena opened its doors once again. Packed to capacity, the arena hosted a watch party for the swearing-in ceremonies taking place just blocks away. Following a congressional luncheon in Statuary Hall at the Capitol, the newly sworn-in 47th President of the United States arrived at Capital One Arena to address the crowd and participate in a modified inaugural parade.
On Monday night, thousands of elegantly dressed attendees filled the city’s three official Inaugural Balls. The Commander-in-Chief and Liberty Balls took place at the Washington Convention Center, while the highly exclusive Starlight Ball transformed Union Station into a glittering venue filled with the nation’s leadership. Among the distinguished guests were governors, senators, and cabinet officials, along with tech CEOs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. Sports legends like Evander Holyfield and Caitlyn Jenner attended, as did media personalities Joe Rogan and Bret Baier.
As with so much of Donald Trump’s presidency, this inauguration put a unique spin on tradition. But despite the weather challenges, the weekend was fun, entertaining, and—most importantly—safe for all who attended.
