Here's What To Expect From The Biden-Harris Inauguration
President-Elect Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated Wednesday, January 20 at 12 p.m. EST, and the day is set to be filled with plenty of entertainment.
With an extremely limited amount of in-person attendance allowed, most Americans will have to watch the ceremony live on TV, and a celebrity-packed special will help usher the country into a new era of leadership.
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46th
President of the United States
The Ceremony
Far less than the usual 200,000 people will be in attendance at the Capitol Building, as just 1,000 people, most of which are members of Congress and their families, will be permitted to view the event in-person.
President Donald Trump has announced he will not be in attendance at the ceremony.
The inauguration is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. EST with a performance of the national anthem by Lady Gaga, which will then lead to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris being sworn into office just before noon.
Joe Biden will then take the oath of office, be sworn in, and deliver his inaugural address, where he will talk about his vision and agenda as President of the United States.
Biden will then join former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush and go to Arlington National Cemetary to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Performances from superstars Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brookes are also on the afternoon schedule.
Cancellations and Strict Security
With the dual threats of the Coronavirus pandemic and recent Pro-Trump riots on Capitol Hill, the secret service has significantly upped security around Downtown D.C., as every road and bridge has been closed off to the general public.
Group tours to monuments throughout the National Mall such as the Washington Memorial have been temporarily canceled.
Nearly 25,000 national guard troops have also been stationed around the city and inside the Capitol Building to prevent any disruption attempts.
Traditional inauguration events, including the public parade Presidential Inauguration Ball, have also had to be scrapped.
TV Special
To conclude the day, a brand-new TV special called "Celebrating America" will be aired with an absolutely stack celebrity lineup.
Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks will be hosting the 90-minute program, which will showcase "the American people’s resilience, heroism, and unified commitment to coming together as a nation to heal and rebuild."
You can also expect musical performances from some of the industry's biggest names, including Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, and Ant Clemons.
The special will air from 8:30 p.m. EST- 10 p.m. EST and can be viewed on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and MSNBC, as well as live-streamed on the Presidential Inaugural Committee's Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch.