Almost 8,000 soldiers bussed in for Trump’s ‘peaceful transition’

Almost 25,000 police officers and 7,800 soldiers will descend on Washington DC for Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, officials have said, as the capital prepares for a “peaceful transfer of power”.

Two FBI field offices, a fleet of drones and more than 30 miles of fencing will be used to keep Mr Trump, other world leaders and attendees safe as he takes the presidential oath of office for the second time.

Local and federal officials revealed the security plans for the ceremony on Monday, and said that despite receiving no specific threats against the president-elect, they are “prepared” for the worst.

The inauguration security team will include almost 25,000 police officers and members of the National Guard from every state will run checkpoints to enter the National Mall in front of the US Capitol.

The government has also imposed a temporary flight restriction over Washington on Monday, and federal officials will fly drones to monitor the security situation from the sky.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to travel to the Capitol, and have been told to expect airport-style security to enter a secure zone covering much of the city.

Laptops, water bottles, selfie sticks and banners have all been banned from the grounds of the ceremony by the Capitol Police.

The FBI said that despite two attempts on Mr Trump’s life on the campaign trail last year, the agency had not detected specific threats planned for the inauguration.

A coalition of protest groups has announced plans for a “People’s March” on Saturday, two days before the ceremony, to object to Mr Trump’s election victory.

They will include reproductive rights activists from Planned Parenthood, the National Women’s Law Center, Abortion Access Now and the Women’s March.

Muriel Bowser, the DC mayor, said the city’s full resources would be deployed to ensure the smooth running of the ceremony.

“Every four years, the District is proud to support the peaceful transition of power,” she said.

“We take pride in this responsibility, and we’re grateful to our federal partners, local agencies, and community members who work together to ensure a safe and secure event.”

At the last inauguration in 2020, which took place two weeks after the Jan 6 protests at the Capitol, federal authorities deployed additional troops and constructed a ring of steel around Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony.

The event was also pared down from the pomp of a normal inauguration because of ongoing Covid restrictions.

This time, Mr Trump’s supporters are expected to arrive from every state and take part in a host of balls and parties on Sunday and Monday night to celebrate his win. Many of the city’s hotels and restaurants have been fully booked since October.

Security for the event was increased after the New Orleans terror attack on Jan 1, when a pickup truck was driven into a crowd of people celebrating the New Year.

Matthew Young, an assistant special agent at the US Secret Service, said on the day after the attack that the agency would “adjust our security plans as needed”.

The inauguration also comes after two other ceremonies designated as National Special Security events – the certification of the election result on Jan 6 and the state funeral of Jimmy Carter three days later.

“This has never happened before,” said Matt McCool, the US Secret Service special agent in charge of the Washington field office “But we’re flexible and adaptable…we’re going to be prepared.”

Mr Trump has praised the Secret Service’s work after the agency stepped up its security when a lone wolf assassin shot at him on the campaign trail in July.

A second attack from the bushes of his Florida golf course was foiled by police two months later.

After the ceremony, Mr Trump and his wife Melania will arrive at the White House, where staff will have unpacked their belongings just hours after the departure of Mr Biden and his wife, Jill.

Mrs Trump said on Monday that she had already designed the house’s private spaces for her husband’s second term.

“I already packed, I already selected the furniture that needs to go in,” she told Fox News. “So it’s a very different transition this time, second time around.”