It is this Wednesday, January 20 that Joe Biden will be invested 46th President of the United States of America. A highly supervised investiture ceremony following the incidents that occurred in Congress on January 06, 2021 when Joe Biden’s victory was confirmed. While the Capitol Hill police had been completely overwhelmed, Washington is this time under siege. Traffic was banned in the center of the American capital, and a 2m50 fence covered with barbed wire and reinforced with concrete blocks was erected all around the Capitol.
Joe Biden will be invested 46th President of the United States this Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 11:59 am (local time). To counter any hint of violence, 25,000 soldiers of the National Guard are mobilized. This is three times more than for Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017. The FBI conducted a huge “background check” and failed 12 soldiers, two of whom had posted online messages sympathizing with far-right militias.
After taking the oath, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, accompanied by former Presidents Barack Obama, George Bush and Bill Clinton and their wives, will go to the Arlington Cemetery to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The President will finally enter the White House. No festivities are planned in the evening. The traditional ball was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Biden and Harris will address the nation on a special television evening. Titled “Celebrating America”, it will conclude the day and will be rebroadcast by all major American channels.
Tradition has it that the outgoing President and the former First Lady welcome the new presidential couple on the morning of the inauguration and that all then go to the Capitol. But this time, Donald Trump will not attend the inauguration of his successor Joe Biden.
The only event in the American Constitution is the swearing-in of the new President at noon, traditionally before the President of the Supreme Court. About 15 minutes before that, the new vice-chair takes the oath. In the event of the death of the new President in the meantime, the Vice-President could succeed him. The exact words of the elected President are, “I swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
