"Project 2025 initiated": Netizens react as Empire State Building, Washington Monument and Capitol all get struck by lightning

On December 31, 2024, lightning struck the US Capitol and Washington Monument in Washington D.C., and the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center in New York, at 5:36 pm EST. Subsequently, footage and pictures of the incident circulated online, showing all the buildings getting impacted as people gathered across the United States to welcome the New Year.

When these videos and pictures went viral, some internet users saw the rare event as a potent omen. Meanwhile, as the lightning struck the structures, Donald Trump fans on social media speculated whether a heavenly message was being sent, as within 3 weeks, the president-elect is officially going to claim his position.

Netizens took to X to comment under @AFpost’s upload about the same, and one even quipped it was a project initiated for the new year, 2025.

“Project 2025 initiated,” wrote one user.

Others also made similar comments. One stated that it is allegedly a “bad omen,” while another internet user inquired about the “future of America.”

“Bad omen for things to come,” a user said.

“What might this mean for the coming year and for the future of America?” another asked.

“Natures’ fireworks,” stated one netizen.

Several others preached to the choir, as one suggested that God did this, while another user seemingly warned that 2025 will allegedly be a “diabolical year.”

“If God was real this is what he’d do,” one suggested.

“God speaks. People have just forgotten how to listen,” another user added.

“This is going to be a diabolical year ahead! Be prepared always!” a netizen commented.

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Lightning strikes weeks before Trump's inauguration for the second time

The lightning garnered netizens' reactions (Image via Getty)

Thousands of people gathered in Times Square, New York on December 31 for the famous ball drop, despite the forecast of heavy weather. Although they braved the weather to watch the ball drop, they got to witness another rare sight in the city.

A lightning bolt struck the iconic Empire State Building on New Year's Eve, as evidenced by videos posted on social media on Tuesday night, December 31. Many users were quick to interpret the phenomena as a portent of things to come, even if it makes sense scientifically, because of the interaction between the building's positive charge and the cloud's negative charge.

The YouTube channel Walks & Wall Street was one of many that captured the incident on camera. At the time of the lightning hit, the account, which livestreams walking tours of NYC locations throughout the year, was shooting the Empire State Building.

This incident occurred against the backdrop of a tense political climate in the United States, as the president-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take office for the second time on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. By doing so, Trump will seal one of the biggest political comebacks in American history, beginning his second term in office.

At 12 pm ET, Trump will take the oath of office in front of the US Capitol, which will likely be given by Chief Justice John Roberts of the US Supreme Court.

A new president takes over the White House when the previous one departs. Traditionally, the majority of Inauguration Day is devoted to pomp and ceremony. Furthermore, as per a New York Times report on November 11, 2024, Trump has promised to sign a slew of executive orders on his first day in office, covering everything—from oil and gas production to border security.

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Meanwhile, the cause of such powerful lightning hasn’t been revealed as of yet.