Trump to Hold DC Rally Ahead of Inauguration
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump will hold a rally on Jan. 19, one day ahead of his inauguration, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., according to multiple sources.
Though details remain scant, Trump is expected to speak at the event, billed as the “Make America Great Again Victory Rally at Capital One Arena,” as are other, currently unannounced speakers.
The venue, located at 601 F Street NW, is home to both the Washington Capitals hockey team and the Washington Wizards basketball team, and has a seating capacity of about 20,000.
According to the sign-up link at the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee website, the event will begin at 3 p.m.
“Join President Trump at Capital One Arena for a victory rally you’ll never forget!” the website says.
The event will be Trump’s first rally in the District of Columbia since an event on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, which immediately preceded a siege on the U.S. Capitol when Trump supporters tried to halt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump is set to be sworn in at the Capitol to his second term in office on Monday, Jan. 20.
On Monday, Trump met with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who later described the session as a “great meeting to discuss our shared priorities for the president’s second term.”
“President Trump and I both want Washington, D.C., to be the best, the most beautiful city in the world and we want the capitol city to reflect the strength of our nation,” Bowser said in a post on the X social media platform.
“I am optimistic that we will continue to find common ground with the president during his second term and we look forward to supporting a successful inauguration on Jan. 20,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has announced that construction and other preparations for the swearing-in ceremonies are right on schedule, thanks to the team in the Architect of the Capitol’s office.
Once completed, the Presidential Inaugural Platform will hold nearly 1,400 inaugural guests, including members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, Supreme Court justices, former presidents, the president, vice president and their families.
More than 220,000 tickets are expected to be distributed for the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies.
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