The White House was in darkness this morning aside from the Residence, where Trump is gathering the last of his things before moving out to make way for Joe Biden, who will be inaugurated as America’s 46th President at noon today.
President Trump is expected to fly to Florida at around 8am, skipping Biden’s inauguration ceremony and turning his nose up and the traditional transition of power that is usually seen.
As Trump flies to Mar-a-Lago, Biden will attend mass with Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell. He will then watch stars including Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga serenade him on the Captiol before delivering his address to the nation and being sworn in.
This year, due to the ongoing pandemic and fears of a security threat, the mall – where thousands normally line up to greet the new President and First Lady – will be closed to the public. There is no parade. Instead, a memorial is taking
This year, however, the Mall will be shut down to visitors, and only a small number of attendees will be permitted to watch Biden take the oath of office and deliver his first speech as president.
A correspondent records himself with his phone as the sun rises over the White House on US President Donald Trump’s final day in office on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC
People come and go as the sun rises prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s departure from the White House in Washington, U.S.
A moving truck drives away from the West Wing of the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington, on Wednesday January 20
The empty office of the White House press secretary is empty in the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington
A keyboard and mouse are wrapped in plastic waiting for the new Press Secretary on Wednesday morning
A newspaper addressed to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany lies on a table in an empty Upper Press Office area prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s departure ahead of the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden
The office of the White House press secretary sits empty prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s departure ahead of the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden, in Washington, U.S. January 20, 2021
The inaugural theme for this year’s ceremony, ‘America United’, aims to restore the ‘soul of America’, bring the nation together and create a ‘path to a brighter future’.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) has announced a series of events to be broadcast throughout Inauguration Day that Americans can watch live from home as people have been ordered to refrain from attending in person.
In lieu of the usual crowds, approximately 191,500 flags will cover the National Mall in honor of those unable to travel to Washington due to the pandemic.
Three hours before Biden will be sworn in as the 46th U.S. President, he will be attending mass at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral with members of the House and Senate at 8:45am.
Guests will then begin arriving on the steps of the Capitol at around 11am.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, organizers have slashed attendance from 200,000 down to just 1,000 people.
Most members of Congress are expected to be in attendance (and have all been permitted plus-ones), as are three of the four living former presidents: Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton, will also be present.
Roll out the red carpet one more time: Air Force members get ready for the last time the president will walk up the steps of Air Force One
Last flight: Donald Trump can never again fly on Air Force One – the call sign is only used when the president is on board
In place: The red carpet is laid down at the steps to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews for the flight to Mar-a-Lago
Honor guard ready: A military escort including soldiers and sailors waits beside the red carpet at Joint Base Andrews
All this will be Joe’s: The next time Air Force One flies it will have the new president on board. The Air Force 747 will fly back from Mar-a-Lago after Biden is sworn in and be ready for him at Joint Base Andrews
A Trump aide with a suitcase walks past the red carpet at Air Force One to head for the back steps
President Trump will not be attending. He confirmed his absence in a tweet earlier this month shortly before he was permanently suspended from the social media platform.
Instead, Trump will leave DC on Air Force One at around 8am, with his destination set for his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida.
He is set to become the first president in more than a century to not attend his successor’s inauguration. Only three presidents have previously abstained, with the last, Andrew Johnson, coming in 1869.
Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, has confirmed he will be attending, along with his wife, Karen.
President Trump will not be attending. He confirmed his absence in a tweet earlier this month shortly before he was permanently suspended from the social media platform.
Instead, Trump will leave DC on Air Force One at around 8am, with his destination set for his Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida.
He is set to become the first president in more than a century to not attend his successor’s inauguration. Only three presidents have previously abstained, with the last, Andrew Johnson, coming in 1869.
Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, has confirmed he will be attending, along with his wife, Karen.
The inauguration ceremony will commence with remarks from Father Leo J. O’Donovan, a longtime friend of the Biden family and former president of Georgetown University.
Andrea Hall, the first African American female firefighter to become captain of the Fire Rescue Department in South Fulton, Georgia, will then recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
A number of live performances are also scheduled to take place throughout the ceremony.
The first on the bill is Lady Gaga, who will sing the national anthem. The singer previously teamed with Biden on domestic violence issues during his two terms as Vice President and also campaigned for him in the 2020 election.
Amanda Gorman, who became the U.S.’s first Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, will then recite a poem she has written for the occasion, titled: ‘The Hill We Climb.’
Much like the incoming president, Gorman also once had a speech impediment that she has worked hard to overcome. She has also recently announced plans to run for president in 2036 – the first year in which she will be eligible.
