Everything you need to know about Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony and live streaming
On January 20, 2021, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., or simply Joe Biden, will become the 46th President of the United States. We tell you everything you need to know about his inauguration ceremony and live broadcast.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also the fear of a possible terrorist action after the assault on the Capitol on January 6, the inauguration of the Democrat will differ significantly from the ceremonies of his predecessors.
What exactly will happen on January 20?
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States, respectively, shortly after noon (local time). Biden will then deliver his first presidential address to the nation. In the evening, instead of the traditional inaugural balls, a large television event will be held.
Who will be present?
As is tradition, most of the country’s members of Congress and the Supreme Court, as well as some former US presidents, will attend the ceremony. Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and their respective wives, Michelle, Laura and Hillary, will be present at the inauguration.
Outgoing President Donald Trump will not attend the event, making him the first president in the country not to witness the inauguration of his successor since Andrew Johnson in 1869. Vice President Mike Pence, for his part, will join.
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Another important absence is that of Jimmy Carter, the country’s longest-living former president. At 96, this will be the first inauguration ceremony he has missed since he took office in 1977.
What is the schedule of the oath?
The exact time that Biden and Harris will officially become president and vice president of the United States has not been announced, but the event is scheduled to begin at 11:00 (local time) on the west front of the Capitol, as tradition dictates.
What will the ceremony consist of?
The ceremony will begin with the words of the Reverend Leo J. O’Donovan, a well-known Jesuit priest and close friend of the Biden family. Next, Andrea Hall, the first African-American female firefighter to become a Fire Department captain in South Fulton, Georgia, will recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
The #InaugurationDay ceremony lineup is here! ????
— Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) January 14, 2021
Invocation – Fr. Leo O’Donovan
Pledge of Allegiance – Andrea Hall
National Anthem – @ladygaga
Poetry Reading – Amanda Gorman
Musical Performance – @JLo
Benediction – Rev. Dr. Silvester Beaman pic.twitter.com/IkTAwH3wgu
Singer Lady Gaga, who campaigned for Biden in the 2020 election, will be responsible for singing the national anthem, something considered a great honor in the country.
I am deeply honored to be joining @BidenInaugural on January 20 to sing the National Anthem and celebrate the historic inauguration of @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris! ???? pic.twitter.com/MfgcG3j4Aa
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) January 14, 2021
Next, Amanda Gorman, a youth poet laureate, will read a poem she has written for the occasion called The Hill We Climb. Gorman will be followed by a performance by singer Jennifer Lopez, who also performed at Obama’s inauguration in 2009.
Finally, a longtime friend of the Biden family, the Reverend Silvester Beaman, pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, will deliver a blessing that will conclude the ceremony.
What will Biden talk about in his speech?
The president’s speech at the inauguration ceremony is seen as his vision for the country for the next four years. While the details are unknown, Biden is expected to focus on reunifying and rebuilding the nation. It is also expected that the new president will talk about his plans to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and the many crises that the US is currently facing.
How will COVID-19 affect the event?
The coronavirus will give the ceremony a different appearance than in previous years since many security protocols will be implemented to avoid infections. Attendees will be socially distanced and must wear masks throughout the event.
The number of guests was also drastically reduced. Instead of the roughly 200,000 people from the previous inaugurations, Biden will have just about 1,000 people at his inauguration.
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In addition, the traditional banquet following the opening ceremony, as well as the investiture balls, have been canceled. Instead, the organizing committee of the event celebrates three virtual dances.
How will the security of the event be guaranteed?
After Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol as the US Congress was ratifying Biden’s Electoral College victory on January 6, numerous additional security measures were implemented.
More than 25,000 members of the National Guard will be deployed to the Capitol region to keep the event safe. In addition, security fences have been erected and numerous streets have been closed in the heart of the American capital.
The National Esplanade, which is usually the place where the spectators of the event gather, will be closed for the first time in history during an investiture ceremony.
What will happen after the ceremony?
After the inauguration, Biden and Harris will review the troops on the east front of the Capitol. This act, in which representatives of all branches of the country’s Armed Forces participate, is a military tradition that honors the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander-in-chief.
Following this, Biden, Harris and their respective spouses, Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff, will pay tribute to the military with a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The Obamas, Bushes and Clintons will also attend this ceremony.
After the visit to the cemetery, Biden, Harris and their partners will address the White House for the first time as president, first lady, vice president and second gentleman – a title that Emhoff has chosen for his new position. Simultaneously, at 3:15 p.m. (local time), Parade Across America will begin, a virtual parade with performances from all 56 US states and territories.
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The finishing touch will be a television event called Celebrating America. The show, packed with great American stars, will air at 8:30 p.m. (local time) and will last 90 minutes. It will be presented by actors Tom Hanks, Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington. Performing artists include Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, and many others.