Washington, Jan. 20, (dpa/GNA) – Joe Biden is scheduled to be sworn in as president of the United States on Wednesday at noon, the oldest man to ever take the oath.
The inaugural event takes place as a pandemic rages, having already killed 400,000 people in the US alone. Also, earlier this month supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump attacked the Capitol. The crowd size is therefore being extremely limited.
Breaking with tradition, Trump himself will not attend Biden’s swearing-in and subsequent gathering of all living presidents.
* Trump will leave the White House early and will hold a small ceremony at a nearby military base, before heading to Florida.
* The inauguration event starts after 10:30 am (1530 GMT).
* Biden will be sworn in around noon by Chief Justice John Roberts. Kamala Harris will be sworn in as vice president by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
* A Jesuit priest, Leo O’Donovan, will offer the opening invocation. Lady Gaga, the pop music star, will sing the US National Anthem. Amanda Gorman, a youth poet laureate, will recite a poem entitled ‘the Hill We Climb.’
* As part of the star-studded event, singer Jennifer Lopez will perform, as will rock icon Bruce Springsteen and country music legend Garth Brooks.
* Biden will give the traditional inaugural address, a key speech that marks his first formal address to the nation as president and is seen as a key chance to set the tone of his term. The speech will likely focus on themes of unity.
* After being sworn in, Biden and Harris will take part in a Pass in Review on the East Front of the Capitol, the traditional review of troops from each branch of the military.
* At around 2:30 pm, Biden will travel to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. All living former presidents and their families – except the Trumps and the Carters – will attend: the Obamas, the Clintons and the Bushes.
* Biden will then travel to the White House, with a military escort, for his first formal entrance as president.
* Around 3:15 pm , the “Parade Across America” event will take place online, and will feature popular comedian Jon Stewart along with other artists. This will replace the in-person inaugural parade.
* At 8:30 pm, Biden will take part in the televised event called “Celebrating America,” capping the historic day.
GNA