Inauguration of Joe Biden
The inauguration of Joe Biden took place on January 20, 2021, marking his ascension as the forty-sixth president of the United States and the historic inauguration of Kamala Harris as vice president. Biden, who previously served as Vice President under Barack Obama, won the 2020 presidential election against incumbent Donald Trump, receiving a record number of popular votes. This inauguration was notably constrained by the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened security measures following the Capitol riot on January 6, which created a tense environment. Traditional festivities were notably scaled down; for example, the National Mall was closed to the public, and a significant military presence was established, including 25,000 National Guard troops.
The theme of the inauguration, "America United," was symbolized by performances from notable artists, including Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, as well as a poignant poem by 22-year-old Amanda Gorman. Biden's and Harris's oaths of office were administered by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, respectively. In contrast to previous inaugurations, outgoing President Trump chose not to attend, a break from tradition, while former presidents and dignitaries gathered to witness the event. A virtual parade and a primetime television special, "Celebrating America," showcased performances from various artists, paying tribute to healthcare workers. Overall, nearly 40 million viewers tuned in to witness the inauguration, highlighting its significance in American political history.
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Inauguration of Joe Biden
The inauguration of Joe Biden refers to former Vice President Joseph Biden’s swearing in as the forty-sixth president of the United States on January 20, 2021. Biden had served two terms as Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2008-2016, and his re-election marked the culmination of his decades-long presidential ambitions. Biden’s running mate, former California senator Kamala Harris, was inaugurated as vice president. In the contentious 2020 presidential election, Biden defeated incumbent president Donald Trump by more than seven million popular votes and received the most votes of any presidential candidate in US history. Biden also defeated Trump in the Electoral College, 306 to 232.
Biden’s inauguration was unusual because it took place during the global COVID-19 pandemic, which by the end of February 2021 had killed more than 500,000 Americans. Because of this, most traditional inaugural events and activities had to be modified or eliminated.
The deadly Capitol riot on January 6 caused further breaks in tradition. The riot occurred after thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol Building during the ceremonial counting of Electoral votes. Five people died, including a Capitol police officer who sustained fatal injuries in a confrontation with rioters. Because of the Capitol riot, the Pentagon ordered 25,000 armed National Guard troops to attend Biden’s inauguration as a security precaution.
Background
A number of traditional events usually take place during presidential inaugurations. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president-elect to attend a church service before being sworn in as president. Since then, all presidents-elect have done this. After the church service, the president-elect and vice president-elect and their families go to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. It is customary for the outgoing president and vice president to accompany them.
The vice president-elect is sworn in first by a person of his or her choosing. Then the president elect is sworn in, usually by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Immediately after the swearing-in ceremony, the US Marine Band performs four drum and bugle salutes and then plays “Hail to the Chief.” A twenty-one-gun salute is also fired.
The new president then delivers the inaugural address, a speech explaining the goals and challenges of the new administration. Some parts of presidents’ inaugural addresses have become famous such as “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1933 inaugural address. After the inauguration, the new president and vice president and their families attend a luncheon in Statuary Hall hosted by the leadership of the US Congress.
The inaugural parade takes place next. The parade is a two-hour celebration along Pennsylvania Avenue. It is usually led by the new president and vice president and their families. When they reach the White House, they go into an enclosed stand at the edge of the North Lawn to watch the parade, which consists of high school bands, military units, and floats representing each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia.
In the evening, the president and vice president attend several official inaugural balls, which are large formal social gatherings hosted by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC). These inaugural balls are invitation-only.
Overview
The events and festivities of Joe Biden’s inauguration were significantly scaled down, due to both the ongoing global pandemic and deadly Capitol Riot at the US Capitol Building only a few weeks earlier. Security was at an unprecedented high. Prior to Biden’s inauguration, a seven-foot-high non-scalable fence topped with razor wire had been erected around the Capitol Building. About 25,000 armed National Guard troops were sent to the inauguration for security. Grandstands for spectators were taken down after the riot. The National Mall, where huge crowds usually gather to watch inauguration ceremonies, was closed along with many other federal buildings and monuments.
The theme of Biden’s inauguration was “America United.” Prior to the swearing-in ceremony, pop star Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem. Twenty-two-year-old poet Amanda Gordon recited her poem “The Hill We Climb” in which she referred to herself as a “skinny Black girl, descended from slaves and raised by a single mother (who) can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one.” Singer Jennifer Lopez performed “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful,” bridging the songs by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.
As is customary for vice presidents-elect, Harris took her inauguration oath first, choosing to be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and becoming the first female, Black, and Asian American vice president in US history. The president-elect was sworn in by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts.
Biden’s inauguration was celebrated with a virtual parade called a “Parade across America.” Dancers, drummers, singers, and athletes from across the United States participated in the inaugural parade.
In lieu of the celebratory inaugural balls, a ninety-minute live primetime television special Celebrating America aired at 8:30 p.m. The program was hosted by actor Tom Hanks and paid tribute to healthcare workers on the front lines. Appearances and performances were made by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Ant Clemons, the Foo Fighters, John Legend, Eva Longoria, and Kerry Washington.
For the first time in one hundred years, the outgoing president, Donald Trump, did not attend the inauguration of the new president. However, his vice president, Mike Pence, did attend. During the Capitol rampage, then-Vice President Pence narrowly escaped rioters who were chanting “Hang Mike Pence” because he did not join the attempt to overturn the presidential election. Trump instead left Washington, DC, on the morning of Inauguration Day, holding his own send-off from Joint Base Andrews. Also in attendance at Biden’s inauguration were former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Neilson ratings showed that nearly forty million people watched Biden’s inauguration on television.
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