Joe Biden
His inauguration should take place on a small scale
Joe Biden's inauguration should take place on a small scale under Corona conditions.
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Joe Biden is sworn in as the new US President in front of the Capitol in January. The inauguration will be different than usual.
The Democratic politician Joe Biden (78) will take his oath of office as the new US President on January 20, 2021 on the stage in front of the Capitol, the seat of the US Congress in the capital Washington, D.C., and then give his inaugural address. His and the inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris (56) as well as the subsequent parade will be different this time than usual.
Although the stage is almost there, as the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) shows on Instagram, and the event is supposed to be "solemn" as usual, the organizers ask that fans and onlookers should watch the political spectacle on TV instead of taking part on site as is usually the case.
"We are asking Americans to attend the housewarming services from their homes to protect themselves, their families, friends and communities," said David Kessler, senior medical advisor for the ceremony. The number of viewers allowed will be extremely limited due to the corona pandemic.
No postponement of the event
The ceremony was not moved to the other side of the Capitol, despite the more manageable area. "We want to ensure that the image of President-elect Biden and Vice-President-elect Harris is one that the American public has always known. But we want it responsibly," said Tony Allen, the inauguration chief, also on Tuesday in a statement of the PIC, from which the "Washington Post" quotes.
And the traditional parade on Pennsylvania Avenue is also to be "redesigned", according to the committee. How exactly is not yet known. A grandstand on the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue across from the White House is already being built for the inaugural parade.
Will there be a meeting of the Trumps and Biden?
Meanwhile, it is still unclear whether there will be a morning meeting of the Bidens with the Trumps in the White House, both because of the health protocols and because the Biden team does not know whether Trump will even take part in the transfer of power. "I don't want to talk about that," said President Donald Trump (74) in an interview with Fox News on Sunday when he was asked if he would attend Biden's inauguration.
Usually a small meeting takes place in the White House before the presidents, one outgoing and one coming, travel to the Capitol with their wives.