Today is the last full day of the Trump presidency and the eve of Biden's inauguration. The US Capitol is effectively blanketed by security as we prepare for the changing of the guard -- and for the grim milestone of 400,000 covid-19 deaths (in under a year).
In his inaugural address, Biden is expected to echo his calls for unity, for the turning of the page, and for inclusion, peace, and patience. He may also hit directly at some of the contemporary causes of discord, echoing -- for instance -- Bernice King's (MLK's daughter) comments yesterday:
"This King holiday has not only come at a time of great peril and physical violence, it has also come during a time of violence in our speech — what we say and how we say it...It is frankly out of control and we are causing too much harm to one another."
Biden will be sworn in and assume the presidency at exactly noon.
In place of the normal inaugural crowds, more than 200,000 flags -- made up of a bunch of American flags and some from each of the states -- have been placed on the National Mall. At 5:30pm tonight, before the inaugural events begin in earnest, Biden will host a vigil at the Lincoln Memorial to remember those who have died from covid-19. It is likely that, by the time he is on TV for this event, the US death toll will have crossed 400,000 -- roughly equal to wiping an entire city the size of Minneapolis from the country. Buildings will be illuminated all over the country as part of this ceremony, and church bells will ring in many towns.
At the inauguration itself, just a small number of people will be allowed on the stage with the president-elect, and the ceremony will be built for TV more than the crowd that is present. Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton are expected to be in attendance, as well as Vice President Pence. President Carter's health will keep him from attending, and President Trump has planned a concurrent event. This will be the fourth time an outgoing president has skipped the inaugural ceremonies; the last was when Andrew Johnson snubbed Ulysses S. Grant. John Adams and his son also skipped their successor's inaugurations.
Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem, and Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks will also perform. There will be a variety of other components to the ceremony, including poetry readings and salutes from the military bands.
Biden and Harris will then proceed down Pennsylvania Avenue in a parade. There will be 1,391 people in the parade, plus 90 horses and 9 dogs. The parade is *not* to celebrate Biden and Harris. As is traditional, the "pass in review" along the East Front of the Capitol at the start of the parade is meant for the new commander-in-chief to review the armed forces, who have just been (historically) peaceably transferred from one commander-in-chief to another.
Biden, Harris, Obama, Bush, Clinton, and the various First Ladies/Gentleman will also lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Solider. Because covid-19 will black out most of the normal festivities, there will be a virtual "Parade Across America," which will include performances and art installations from the 50 states and 6 other US territories. In addition to the state-level performers, the Mall has been lit with 56 pillars of blue light, and a variety of performers in DC -- led by Tony Goldwyn, Jon Stewart, the New Radicals, and others -- will supplement the parade.
At 8:30pm, the will be a prime-time TV special to celebrate American unity. The special will include performances by Bon Jovi, the Foo Fighters, John Legend, Demi Levato, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jose Andres, Dolores Huerta, and others. Tom Hanks will host the event, and the new president will speak a second time.
On Thursday morning, an inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral will conclude the inauguration events.
Included here are several photos from the rehearsal of the inauguration that took place yesterday, as well as some imagery of the National Mall last night.
The view of the Capitol from the National Mall.
The view of the state flags lining the Mall.
The National Mall - January 18, 2021
The pillars of light, one for each of the states and territories, above DC January 18, 2021
An art installation in Lawrence, Kansas that will be part of the Parade Across America tomorrow.
Flags for each state and territories
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