Almost all of DC shut down for Trump’s inauguration. But why was there no survivor?

the president Donald Trump Monday’s inauguration had the largest, most elaborate security footprint of any inauguration in US history.

The nation’s capital went from a pedestrian-friendly city to an intimidating and impenetrable fortress overnight — the result of a multi-agency task force that built 30 miles of anti-scale fencing, coordinated air surveillance and drones, and oversaw deployment. Tens of thousands of law enforcement, military, secret agents and national guard trucks across DC

Impressive, whole-of-government security efforts Inauguration Day It wasn’t unprecedented and not without reason: Trump was the victim of two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign, including a shooter close to his ear, and the picture of a terrorist-inspired domestic threat intensified. The attack in New Orleans and the execution-style killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan late last year.

So it’s notable that this year’s expanding security footprint conspicuously did not include one key component considered central to U.S. tradition: Designated survivor naming.

Fencing stands in front of the US Capitol. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

A tightly coordinated federal enforcement effort in DC was carefully planned by the Secret Service and many other federal agencies long before Trump’s inauguration.

This is both a sign of recent security concerns, but also an attempt to protect the US political establishment, foreign government officials, donors and thousands of participants from any mass disaster or threat.

The designated survivor who will be responsible for leading the United States after a crisis in a catastrophic event is usually a Cabinet member when major security measures bring all elected officials together, such as inaugurations and State of the Union addresses. .

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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the Commander-in-Chief Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier survivors included former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, former Energy Secretary Rick Perry and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was selected for the post during President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.

Gates, who was appointed by George W. Bush, was retained by Obama and served at the Pentagon until July 2011. Biography of the Ministry of Defense.

The location, and sometimes the identity, of the survivor remains confidential until after the event has been dispersed and its participants have returned home safely. High-profile events have a more extensive contingency plan in place.

Like Garrett Graff Information was provided in 2016During Obama’s inauguration, Gates’ designated survivor role also included the support of another government heavyweight, James Clapper, then-undersecretary of intelligence. will and a group defense, a nod to a detailed succession plan carefully crafted by intelligence, and other federal agencies for more than 40 years.

So it was notable that the 47th president’s inauguration did not mention the survivors.

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President Donald Trump attends the Inaugural Commander-in-Chief Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Reuters/Daniel Cole)

No reason was given for not having a designated survivor, which was a first This was reported by NBC News.

Perhaps the extensive security presence coordinated on the eve of January 20 was deemed sufficient to ward off any threat.

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President Donald Trump reviews the troops during the inauguration ceremony at Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025. (Greg Nash/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Perhaps the event, held indoors and thus limited to members of the public and media, was too limited to guarantee a designated survivor.

Prior to the event, FBI and Secret Service officials emphasized that strict security measures are being taken and that any ticketed attendees will be heavily vetted.

David Sundberg of the FBI’s Washington Field Office previously told Fox News this week, the bureau said it was not tracking “any specific or credible threats” for Inauguration Day.

“All participants will be screened,” said Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office.

Fencing alone is more than National Special Security Measures have been designated in the past, these individuals told Fox News.

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“Designated checkpoints will be set up for members of the public interested in attending the inauguration,” McCool said before the swearing-in — a protocol that also extended to attendees of the modified Capital One festivities, which were moved inside because of the cold weather.

Neither The White HouseDHS or the FBI immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the lack of a designated survivor.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.