Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington worries the FBI and the secret services, here's why

UNITED STATES – The most resounding comeback in history. This Monday, January 20, Republican Donald Trump will be officially inaugurated, four years after losing the presidential election to Joe Biden, a revenge that he has been enjoying for three months. But in Washington, the federal capital where the festivities take place, the FBI is more than ever on alert.

Secret Service Agent Matt McCool told reporters that due to“a more threatening environment”, the “security plan (is) a little more solid” than for previous investitures. It must be said that the ceremony to which thousands of people are invited – Trumpist supporters, heads of foreign states, tech bosses, high-ranking political representatives, etc. – is being held in a particularly tense context.

It is indeed difficult not to have in mind the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, when the white-hot supporters of Donald Trump wanted to oppose the certification of the results of the presidential election confirming the victory of Democrat Joe Biden . This year, none of that, and the codified procedure took place completely peacefully. But demonstrations are still organized to protest against the return of the 45th President of the United States to the White House.

Planned demonstrations, assassination attempts…

On Saturday, thousands of people were in the streets to participate in the “People’s March”, led by several civil rights and social justice groups. The mobilization echoed the “Women’s March” from January 21, 2017, the day after Donald Trump's first inauguration. Another demonstration is planned for Monday, but on a smaller scale.

Law enforcement will ensure that people can “ demonstrate and assemble peacefully”Democratic Mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, told the press. But “ violence, destruction and illegal behavior will not be tolerated,” she warned.

The concern of the FBI and the Secret Service does not stop with these protests. The presidential campaign was particularly violent verbally between Donald Trump and Joe Biden then Kamala Harris, but also physically. The real estate tycoon narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in the middle of a meeting in Butler, Pennsylvania, in mid-July. Then a few weeks later, an individual with a weapon was arrested near a golf course where the now 47th American president was playing.

The fear of the “lone wolf”

Added to this are the two attacks on New Year's Eve. First the terrorist attack in New Orleans which left 15 dead, including the suspect shot dead by the police after driving into the crowd with his car. Then the one in Las Vegas in front of a Trump hotel, with the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck, Elon Musk's brand very close to the new president.

As a result, the federal capital is experiencing unprecedented security deployment. Some 25,000 police and military personnel are mobilized, snipers will be posted on the roofs, drones will fly, and above all, an impressive barrier 48 kilometers long and 2 meters high has been erected.

City Police Chief Pamela Smith told CBS “that whenever there is domestic terrorism, security efforts are reinforced”. She particularly fears “the fact that there can be lone wolf things, copycats that exist”. “The greatest threat to us all remains that of the lone wolf”agent Matt McCool confirmed. But for the authorities, there is currently no known and credible threat to the ceremony.

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