As President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Monday, reports indicate that at least seven local police departments around the Washington, D.C. area refused to provide assistance for the ceremony. It isn’t clear why the local authorities were unwilling to assist the Metropolitan Police Department in protecting Inauguration Day at the Capitol.
The decision from over half a dozen police departments could have left the MPD with hundreds fewer police officers to safeguard the critical event. Recent inaugurations, such as President Trump’s first in 2017, have seen intense volatility from protestors and rioters. Nonetheless, the MPD confirmed they will have thousands of officers on duty with the help of several local departments.
While the reasoning was not entirely clear, with all the departments refusing to lend their resources, some suggested it was because of a dispute over a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which is an agreement between police departments. “I was just told that based on the current MOU, we will not be assisting Metro PD,” according to a spokesperson for Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland.
Furthermore, Howard and Queen Anne’s County police departments, also from Maryland, explained to the Daily Caller that they would not be helping with inauguration security. Notably, Howard PD claimed that it did provide security in 2017, but was not asked to participate this year. Queen Anne’s told the outlet that it would not be assisting this year due to “technical difficulties.”
Anne Arundel County, Maryland State Police, and Prince George’s County stated they would be helping Capitol Police with the inauguration. The MPD stated that it was “working closely with our local, state, and federal partners as we prepare for the 60th Presidential Inauguration.” The department added, “As with any other events in the District, it is our priority to ensure the safety and security of District residents and visitors.”
The inauguration, which is typically hosted outside was. moved into the Capital Rotunda due to unprecedented weather. Trump shared the news on Truth Social, writing, “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.” He added, “It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!).”
Explaining the move, the Capitol Police said, “At the request of the President-elect and the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the 60th Inauguration will be held inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. The ticketed areas outside, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, will now be closed to ticketed guests on Monday, January 20, due to the extremely cold weather that is expected in Washington, D.C. The United States Capitol Police, along with our law enforcement partners, will still have a heightened security posture with an increased law enforcement presence and layers of physical security. The security perimeter is the same.”
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Watch Melania wearing a stunning outfit as she and Trump arrived for pre-Inauguration church ceremony here: