Why Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' Inauguration Would Be Unlike Any Other in American History

As President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris prepare themselves for the swearing-in ceremony as the 46th president and vice-president of the United States of America, the people are preparing themselves as well for an inauguration ceremony that will be like no other in U.S. history, considering the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the U.S. Capitol building riots.

It would be a socially distanced ceremony before a small audience with former presidents, leaders, A-listers, parades, and tributes, looking at the dual-threat of the virus and possibilities of domestic terrorism. During a press conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said as it looks like they're in "uncharted waters," and so she asked the public officials to discourage people from attending the ceremony.

As the stage for the ceremony has been set up outside the U.S. Capitol building, thousands of National Guard troops will be around the 7-foot non-scalable fence, topped with razor wire, surrounding the building, as per ABC News. Temporary closing of the National Mall till January 21 will also be implemented by the National Parks service.

As per NBC News, along with former presidents, most of the Congress and Supreme Court members are expected to attend the ceremony. Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Geroge W. Bush will be a part of the inauguration as will former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton. A-lister celebrities like Tom Hanks, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez along with other celebrities will be making the night even more special with their performances.

For the first time in more than 100 years, the current president won't be attending the inauguration ceremony. Donald Trump is leaving Washington the morning of the ceremony from where he'll be heading to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Only three presidents before Trump - John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Johnson, didn't follow the tradition of riding to the Capitol building with the incoming president.

Current Vice President, Mike Pence, would be present at the special occasion where Kamala Harris is going to make history when she swears in as the first woman of color to be the vice president of the U.S.

The Pledge of Allegiance would be recited by the president of the International Association of Firefighters, Andrea Hall. The invocation benediction would be delivered by members of the clergy who are close to Biden and his family. Lady Gaga would be singing the national anthem after which the country's first Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, 23-year-old Amanda Gorman will be reciting a poem titled, The Hill We Climb, that she wrote for the occasion.

Following Biden's swearing-in at 12 pm, administered by Supreme Court's chief justice, John Roberts, and his inaugural speech that is expected to be focused around his campaigning theme, America United, the wreath-laying would be done at Arlington National Cemetery with other first families. The virtual parade will follow the wreath-laying at 3.15 pm, featuring performances from all 56 states and territories. A star-studded TV event called Celebrating America, airing at 8.30 pm would be the grand finale.

All major networks will be covering the inauguration live. The live coverage can be streamed online on ABC News Live through ABC News App, Hulu, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku TV as well. Celebrating America would be streamed live on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and MSNBC along with the presidential inaugural committee's social media channels on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. You can also directly click here.

References:

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/joe-bidens-inauguration-watch/story?id=75257436

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/viewers-guide-biden-s-inauguration-day-everything-you-need-know-n1254340

https://bideninaugural.org/watch/