Washington, D.C., has been draped in a tight security blanket ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20 at the White House. Over 25,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed to screen thousands of assembled supporters. Numerous checkpoints and nearly 48 kilometers of temporary fencing have been installed, according to a report by British news agency Reuters.
The inauguration ceremony will officially conclude with a parade from the Capitol steps, where Trump will take the oath, to the White House. Over the weekend, counter-protests by Trump opponents and celebratory marches by Republicans are expected.
Facing the Washington Monument, Trump will take the oath of office in the presence of elected members of Congress, his nominated administration officials, and Supreme Court justices. It was at this very Capitol Hill where Trump supporters staged an attack after his loss to Biden in 2020.
Another reason for ensuring airtight security is a series of horrifying isolated attacks in the U.S. in recent months, most of which were carried out by lone individuals. Trump has already faced two assassination attempts. In one instance, a gunman’s bullet narrowly missed his ear.
Additionally, the start of the year saw two devastating attacks in the U.S. In New Orleans, a former U.S. soldier drove a truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers, killing 14 and injuring many others. On the same day, another active-duty soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck in front of a Trump-branded hotel in Las Vegas, killing himself in the process.
Matt McCool, a special agent of the U.S. Secret Service, stated in a press conference, “We are facing a serious security threat.”
U.S. security officials are particularly concerned about isolated attacks, often referred to as “lone wolf” attacks, rather than planned group strikes. While there is no information about any specific or well-coordinated attack on the inauguration ceremony, authorities remain cautious about individual attackers.
The U.S. Capitol Police have reported the arrest of an individual near the Capitol building who attempted to start a fire.
Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger, in a security briefing, said, “High-alert security measures will remain in place throughout the week. Lone attackers are our primary concern.”