Fact Check: "It Rained on Trump's First Inauguration"
What We Know
On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Weather reports from that day confirm that it indeed rained during the inauguration ceremony. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures were in the upper 40s, and light rain began shortly after Trump started his speech, continuing throughout the event (Inauguration Weather, The history of inauguration weather in Washington, D.C.).
The rain was not heavy, but it was enough to be noticeable, and various news outlets reported that Trump himself acknowledged experiencing "a couple of drops" of rain during his address (White House Pushes 'Alternative Facts.' Here Are the Real Ones.).
Analysis
The claim that it rained on Trump's inauguration is supported by multiple credible sources, including the National Weather Service and major news organizations. The National Weather Service provides historical weather data, which confirms that light rain occurred during the ceremony (Inauguration Weather). Additionally, reports from CNN and TIME corroborate this, noting that rain began as Trump commenced his speech and persisted for the duration of the event (Weather for Trump's inauguration looks gloomy | CNN Politics, Trump Inauguration: Rain Starts During Donald Trump Speech - TIME).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations and official weather reporting agencies. The National Weather Service is a government entity responsible for providing weather-related data and forecasts, making its information particularly authoritative.
Moreover, the context surrounding the inauguration, including Trump's comments about the weather, adds to the credibility of the claim. Trump stated that it rained during his speech, although he later claimed that it stopped shortly after he began speaking, which was not accurate (White House Pushes 'Alternative Facts.' Here Are the Real Ones.).
Conclusion
The claim that it rained on Trump's first inauguration is True. The evidence from reliable weather reports and news articles confirms that light rain occurred during the ceremony, making the statement factually accurate.
Sources
- Inauguration Weather
- The history of inauguration weather in Washington, D.C.
- White House Pushes 'Alternative Facts.' Here Are the Real Ones.
- Weather for Trump's inauguration looks gloomy | CNN Politics
- Trump Inauguration: Rain Starts During Donald Trump Speech - TIME
- A look back at the weather on Inauguration Days of the past
- Trump's Inauguration Day Expected to Be Coldest Since Reagan ... - Newsweek