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Washington braces for Trump Inauguration

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Washington braces for Trump Inauguration


Metal fences, concrete barriers and security checkpoints still line many the walkways and cross streets of the National Mall – extending from the U.S. Capitol down past some of Washington’s most noted landmarks – as the nation prepares to swear in its 47th president.

But while the 0.6-square-kilometer (146-acre) swath of land is often the highlight of many a tourist visit, it is no longer the focus of security efforts for when President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office for a second time.

Frigid temperatures forecast for much of Monday led Trump to move the festivities inside – the inauguration to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and the traditional inaugural parade to the nearby Capital One Arena.

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The changes, first announced Friday, presented a last-minute hitch for security and law enforcement officials, who had been planning for the inauguration for the past year.

People around outside Capital One Arena after a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington.

And it has left them, and the approximately 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel charged with security, with multiple challenges.

“We will shift those assets,” said the U.S. Secret Service’s Matt McCool, briefing reporters Sunday.

“We have not cut anything from what our original plan was,” he said. “I’m very confident, with our partners here, we will be ready.”

The numbers could make the situation especially trying.

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Organizers had expected about 250,000 ticketed guests to descend on the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall to watch the inauguration.

Only a select few will be allowed into the Capitol Rotunda, which accommodates just 600 people. And the Capital One Area seats just 20,000.

If even just a fraction of the 250,000 people who had planned on attending the inauguration try to get to the arena, there could be a crunch.

Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Sunday her force, bolstered by and about 4,000 police officers from across the U.S., will be ready.

“Nothing has really changed,” Smith told reporters. “The police officers that were committed and dedicated to coming here, we’ll be flexible in how we’ll adjust [their] movement. … So, we will still have police officers in places and spaces around our city as we initially planned.”

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Some of those officers, Smith said, will still be assigned to the original parade route in anticipation that some people will try to get a glimpse of the presidential motorcade as it goes by.

U.S. Capitol Police said they also anticipate having officers on the periphery of the West Front of the Capitol – now closed off with the inauguration moved indoors – ready to direct ticketed guests who will no longer be able to attend.

In addition, the inaugural security contingent, which includes the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, Washington Metropolitan Police, and some 7,800 members of the U.S. Army and Air National Guard, will all be coordinated from a command center linked into an expanded network of cameras keeping watch on the city.

And though security measures in some areas, including along parts of the National Mall, have been relaxed, officials said there will be plenty of reminders for anyone coming to Washington that this is no ordinary time.

“They will see tactical teams,” McCool said, during an earlier briefing with reporters last week. “They’ll see, officers and agents on rooftops, they’ll see checkpoints. They’ll see road closures and barriers in concrete.”

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Even before the inauguration was moved inside, officials had been preparing for what they described as “a higher threat environment,” cautioning the security plans for this inauguration were already more robust than in the past.

“The biggest threat, I think, for all of us remains the lone actor,” said Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger. “That threat … remains the biggest justification for us being on this heightened stage state of alert.”

Those concerns were heightened following the New Year’s Day terror attack and truck ramming in New Orleans and the Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Earlier this month Capitol Police arrested two men suspected of trying to disrupt the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, one who tried to bring knives and a machete into the Capitol and another who set their car on fire.

Research, including a recent survey by the University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats, adds to the concerns.

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“Over 5% of the American public supports the use of force to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president,” Robert Pape, the project’s director, told VOA.

“That equates to 14,000,000 American adults,” he said. “That’s an unfortunately disturbing number.”

Already, Trump was also the target of two attempted assassinations.

There is also an ongoing threat from Iran. Despite repeated Iranian denials, U.S. security and law enforcement officials have accused Tehran of trying to kill Trump, unveiling one plot set to be carried out last year, in the days after the U.S. presidential election.

For now, though, U.S. officials see no signs of impending trouble.

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“The FBI is not currently tracking any credible or specific threats to the inaugural ceremony or the Capitol complex,” the bureau’s Washington Field Office told VOA. “We will continue to work closely with our partners to share information and identify and disrupt any threats that may emerge.”

Another source for concern is the tens of thousands of protesters, though so far, there have been no major incidents.

Saturday’s People’s March, which was permitted to have as many as 50,000 protesters, sparked only brief tensions with Trump supporters.

Another group, called We Fight Back, has permits for protests involving about 10,000 people in across several locations on Monday.

“Please note that [we] will ensure your right to peacefully protest and assemble,” said the Metropolitan Police Department’s Smith.

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“However, I want to reiterate, as I always have, that violence, destruction and unlawful behavior will not be tolerated,” she said. “Offenders will face swift and decisive consequences … anyone who thinks that they can come into this city to destroy property, we will be prepared to deal with them.”

Kim Lewis contributed to this report.



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Trump fires WA US Attorney within an hour

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Trump fires WA US Attorney within an hour


President Donald Trump fired a newly appointed federal prosecutor in Seattle less than an hour after he was named to the position.

What we know:

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Former King County judge Roger Rogoff was assigned to take over as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington on Wednesday. The seat has remained empty since Charles Neil Floyd was appointed as First Assistant U.S. Attorney back in February, though he kept running the office as western Washington’s U.S. District Attorney.

Rogoff was named to the position by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo, but soon after the judicial order was posted, the White House blocked the move and fired Rogoff.

Roger Rogoff

The backstory:

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The Trump administration made similar moves in the firings of two other U.S. attorneys — Donal Kinsella of New York and Desiree Grace of New Jersey — the same day they were sworn in. Both were set to replace Trump-appointed interim judges, but were fired shortly after getting the job.

Local perspective:

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Western Washington is not a typical case though, as the district hasn’t had a permanent U.S. Attorney since now-Attorney General Nick Brown left the position in 2023. Since then, there’s been several interim U.S. attorneys, which only allows them to serve for a limited time.

Rogoff was set to serve as acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington until President Trump selected a replacement. Instead, the position remains unfilled.

What they’re saying:

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Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote the following in response to Rogoff’s firing:

“District court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, and POTUS can fire them. WDWA judges abandoned the time-honored process of consultation with the administration so that the selected U.S. Attorney is qualified to serve in the administration. Roger Rogoff has been fired by the President.”

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However, Senator Patty Murray criticized the decision, saying Rogoff was qualified for the position and appointed legally. She issued the following statement:

“Roger Rogoff’s is eminently qualified—throughout his career, he has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to public service, and he was appointed legally by the federal judges in the Western District of Washington. He should have never been fired, but the President wants to appoint an out-of-touch extremist who will put Trump over the rule of law. This administration doesn’t want to deal with advice and consent—they just want to install cronies to carry out a corrupt political agenda. The people of Washington state deserve someone in this role who will enforce the law fairly and responsibly—not some Trump administration sock puppet. The President needs to understand that DOJ works for the American people—it’s not his personal law firm to enforce his mob-style politics.”

What’s next:

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A federal lawsuit could be in order challenging Rogoff’s dismissal, however no immediate announcements were made by state leaders.

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Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

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The Source: Information in this story came from order filed in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Washington, statements from acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and Senator Patty Murray, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.

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Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington and More Celebrate Opening Night of The Whoopi Monologues

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Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington and More Celebrate Opening Night of The Whoopi Monologues


Kara Young, Dominique Fishback, Kecia Lewis, Kerry Washington and Danielle Pinnock

(Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

The Whoopi Monologues opened on July 13 at Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, reimagining Whoopi Goldberg’s 1984 one-woman show as an ensemble piece. The cast, which features Kerry Washington, Kara Young, Dominique Fishback, Kecia Lewis and Danielle Pinnock, assembled on opening night to serve red carpet glam. Cedric The Entertainer, Don Cheadle, Angela Bassett, Ana Navarro and Goldberg herself also turned up in their finery. Scroll down for some hot shots of the stars in attendance and check out the full gallery below!

Whoopi Goldberg hits the red carpet on the opening night of her reimagined theater piece The Whoopi Monologues. (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

The Whoopi Monologues director Whitney White celebrates the production’s opening night. (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

Angela Bassett worked with Whoopi Goldberg on How Stella Got Her Groove Back and celebrated the star’s work at the opening of The Whoopi Monologues. (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

Whoopi Goldberg’s Kingdom Come scene partner and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone star Cedric The Entertainer attends opening night of The Whoopi Monologues. (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

Don Cheadle and his wife, Bridgid Coulter, step out to support his former Proof co-star Kara Young on opening night of The Whoopi Monologues. (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

Ana Navarro shows up for her The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg on opening night of The Whoopi Monologues. (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)

Whitney White, Kai Heath, Pavar Snipe, Denise Manning, Kara Young, Kerry Washington, Dominique Fishback, Kecia Lewis and Danielle Pinnock celebrate opening night of their production, The Whoopi Monologues. (Photo by Sergio Villarini for Broadway.com)


Get Tickets to The Whoopi Monologues!

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US Air Force helicopter makes precautionary landing in Washington

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US Air Force helicopter makes precautionary landing in Washington


Diyar Guldogan

14 July 2026Update: 14 July 2026

A US Air Force helicopter made a precautionary landing in northwest Washington, DC late Monday, local media reported.

The incident occurred at approximately 9.25 p.m. (0125GMT Tuesday) when a UH-1N Huey helicopter assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland landed along Foxhall Road near Whitehaven Parkway NW, close to the Georgetown Reservoir.

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All four crew members who were on board are safe, according to media reports.

Maintenance personnel and law enforcement officials remained at the scene into the early hours of Tuesday as authorities assessed the aircraft and investigated the circumstances surrounding the landing.



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