The inauguration of president-elect Joe Biden on January 20 is shaping up to be an unprecedented event due to the Covid-19 pandemic and unconventional nature of President Donald Trump’s departure from the White House.
Following the breach of the US Capitol on January 6, authorities ordered enhanced security measures across Washington ahead of inauguration day, including the posting of a large battalion of National Guard troops.
To prevent mobs once again descending on Washington, some hotels and Airbnbs sites in the area have temporarily closed. Delta Air Lines has also stopped travellers flying to Washington from checking-in firearms.
Mr Trump has said he will not attend the inauguration ceremony, which marks the official transfer of presidential power, breaking from a long-standing tradition that sees outgoing presidents welcome their successor to the White House on inauguration day.
On the closing day of an unconventional presidency, Mr Trump is also unlikely to follow other White House customs for an outgoing president, such as leaving a letter to their successor in an Oval Office desk drawer.
Impeached for a second time over the Capitol riot, Mr Trump will leave Washington on the morning of the inauguration to fly to his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago, where he plans to live, Bloomberg reported.
One tradition that will remain is that the president-elect will stay at the historic Blair House presidential guesthouse on the night before his inauguration. The Bidens have accepted an invitation from the State Department to stay there.
While Mr Trump has refused to attend the inauguration ceremony, former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton have all confirmed their attendance.
The pandemic has forced the Biden team to scale back on audience size in order to prevent crowds and any potential for Covid-19 spread.
In previous years, lawmakers have each received tickets to distribute to their constituents, donors or other guests. This year, lawmakers are still invited to attend, but only with a plus-one. Social distancing and mask-wearing will be enforced.
The theme for Mr Biden’s inauguration will be “America United”. While the official schedule for the day has yet to be released, he officially becomes president at noon on inauguration day, according to the 20th amendment to the constitution.
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An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of US President Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. Reuters -
Family members and loved ones of Jose Garcia, who died from Covid-19, cry as he is laid to rest at the San Jose Cemetery in La Mesa, New Mexico, on December 22, 2020. Reuters -
Trader Peter Tuchman wears a DOW 30,000 hat as he greets friends outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York, on November 24, 2020. Reuters -
Healthcare personnel prepare to discharge a patient who had been quarantining after a possible exposure to the Covid-19 at a hospital in Lakin, Kansas, on November 19, 2020. Reuters -
A cab driver raises his fist as people celebrate media announcing that Democratic US presidential nominee Joe Biden has won the 2020 US presidential election on Union Square in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on November 7, 2020. Reuters -
GOP poll challengers react after being asked to leave due to room capacity at the TCF Center after Election Day in Detroit, Michigan, on November 4, 2020. Reuters -
Dana Clark and her 18-month-old son Mason wait in line at City Hall as early voting begins for the upcoming presidential election in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 16, 2020. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump pulls off his protective face mask as he poses atop the Truman Balcony of the White House after returning from being hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center for Covid-19 treatment, on October 5, 2020. Reuters -
People hold a moment of silence during the march for Breonna Taylor in New York City, New York, on September 25, 2020. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump supporters try to catch a hat during a campaign event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on September 19, 2020. Reuters -
A man kneels as he brings a megaphone to a vigil on the steps of the US Supreme Court following the death of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, on September 18, 2020. Reuters -
Alan Swinney points a gun during clashes between groups like Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer, and protesters against police brutality and racial injustice in Portland, Oregon, on August 22, 2020. Reuters -
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and US Senator and Democratic candidate for Vice President Kamala Harris celebrate after Joe Biden accepted the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination during the 4th and final night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 20, 2020. Reuters -
Lightning strikes above the George Floyd memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 14, 2020 as racial justice protests continue across the country. Reuters -
The casket of civil rights pioneer and longtime US Representative John Lewis, who died July 17, is placed by a USmilitary honor guard at the center of the US Capitol Rotunda to lie in state on July 27, 2020. Reuters -
Sandra Cruz, who lost her job because of the Covid-19 outbreak, and fell four months behind on her rent and is fearing eviction, and her daughter Gabriella wait for a ride after picking up free groceries distributed by the Chelsea Collaborative in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on July 22, 2020. Reuters -
"Chip" Charles Eichenberg, 72, excavates anthracite coal from a strip mine in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2020. Reuters -
Protesters blocking an exit to the precinct of the officers who arrested Elijah McClain, cover their ears anticipating the use of flash-bang grenades by police in Aurora, Colorado, on July 3, 2020. Reuters -
Nurses Sasha Dubois and Farah Fevrin kneel for the eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence during a vigil at Brigham and Women’s Hospital against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 5, 2020. Reuters -
Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the State Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado, on April 19, 2020. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump holds up a Bible as he stands in front of St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House after walking there for a photo opportunity during ongoing protests over racial inequality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, on June 1, 2020. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump holds up a copy of USA Today's front page showing news of his acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial on February 6, 2020. Reuters -
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rips up the speech of US President Donald Trump after his State of the Union address to a joint session of the US Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol on February 4, 2020. Reuters -
House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and House Clerk Cheryl Johnson carry two articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump during a procession with the seven House impeachment managers through the Rotunda of the US Capitol to the US Senate on January 15, 2020. Reuters -
Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies before the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing on the Office of Special Counsel's investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election on Capitol Hill on July 24, 2019. Reuters -
The contents of grain silos which burst from flood damage are shown in Fremont County Iowa, on March 29, 2019. Reuters -
Maria Meza, a 40-year-old migrant woman from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, runs away from tear gas with her five-year-old twin daughters Saira Mejia Meza, left, and Cheili Mejia Meza, right, in front of the border wall between the US and Mexico, in Tijuana, Mexico, on November 25, 2018. Reuters -
Mourners react outside a reception center for families of victims of a mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, on November 8, 2018. Reuters -
A White House staff member reaches for the microphone held by CNN's Jim Acosta as he questions US President Donald Trump during a news conference following the midterm US congressional elections at the White House on November 7, 2018. Reuters -
Democratic congressional candidate Ilhan Omar is greeted by her husband’s mother after appearing at her midterm election night party in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 6, 2018. Reuters -
Christine Blasey Ford closes her eyes as she is sworn in before testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill on September 27, 2018. Reuters -
A stadium security guard stands with her hand over her heart as Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall (54) and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) sit in silent protest during the national anthem prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on August 30, 2018. USA TODAY Sports / Reuters -
US first lady Melania Trump climbs into her motorcade vehicle wearing a Zara design jacket with the phrase "I Really Don't Care. Do U?" on the back as she returns to Washington from a visit to the US-Mexico border area in Texas, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on June 21, 2018. Reuters -
Immigrant children are led by staff in single file between tents at a detention facility next to the Mexican border in Tornillo, Texas, on June 18, 2018. Reuters -
A border patrol agent apprehends a woman and a man after they were caught illegally crossing into the US border from Mexico near McAllen, Texas, on May 2, 2018. Reuters -
Supporters of the National Socialist Movement, a white nationalist political group, give Nazi salutes while taking part in a swastika burning at an undisclosed location in Georgia, on April 21, 2018. Reuters -
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives to testify before a Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees joint hearing regarding the company’s use and protection of user data, on Capitol Hill on April 10, 2018. Reuters -
White House Communications Director Hope Hicks leaves the US Capitol after attending the House Intelligence Committee closed door meeting on February 27, 2018. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump speaks while participating in a tour of US-Mexico border wall prototypes near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, California, on March 13, 2018. Reuters -
Ruth Santiago refreshes herself with water from a pipe after Hurricane Maria destroyed the town's bridge in San Lorenzo, Morovis, Puerto Rico, on October 4, 2017. Reuters -
Cataldo Ambulance medics and other first responders revive a 32-year-old man who was found unresponsive and not breathing after an opioid overdose on a sidewalk in the Boston suburb of Everett, Massachusetts, on August 23, 2017. Reuters -
A photograph of Charlottesville victim Heather Heyer is seen amongst flowers left at the scene of the car attack on a group of counter-protesters that took her life during the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 14, 2017. Reuters -
A young girl dances with an American flag in baggage claim while women pray behind her during a protest against the travel ban imposed by US President Donald Trump's executive order, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas, Texas, on January 29, 2017. Reuters
The inauguration will be followed by a "pass in review" military ceremony, during which the armed forces acknowledge their new commander-in-chief. Mr Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris will then visit Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony.
The rest of the day’s events will be digital, with a televised “Parade Across America” that will feature “diverse, dynamic performances in communities across the country”.
Inauguration day will close with a 90-minute prime-time virtual event hosted by Tom Hanks, with performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Bruce Springsteen, among others.
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Joe Biden’s inauguration: the full list of stars performing
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Justin Timberlake is just one of the artists due to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. AP Photo -
Jon Bon Jovi is also set to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. Delores Johnson / The National -
Jennifer Lopez joins the list of artists set to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. Reuters -
Pop star Lady Gaga is also one of the artists due to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. AFP -
American country rock star Garth Brooks is one of the artists due to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. AP Photo -
Bruce Springsteen will perform at a televised special marking Joe Biden's inauguration. AFP -
Demi Lovato is one of the artists due to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. AFP -
The Foo Fighters are due to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. AFP -
John Legend is one of the artists due to perform at Joe Biden's inauguration. AP Photo -
Tom Hanks will be hosting at Joe Biden's inauguration. AP Photo
