January 20th local time, President-elect Biden of the United States will attend the inauguration ceremony on the west side of the Capitol and officially be sworn in as president, which also means that the current President Trump’s term is over.
So far, the 2020 U.S. presidential election ushered in the “final chapter”, and Biden, 78, will become the oldest president in American history. In the dual context of the coronavirus epidemic and the threat of violent protests, what exactly will happen on the day of the inauguration of the President of the United States?
Trump will not attend the inauguration ceremony
According to CNN, on January 8th local time, Trump tweeted before his Twitter account was permanently banned that he would not attend Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
This move would break American historical tradition, and Trump became the first incumbent since 1869 not to attend the inauguration of the successor president.
President-elect Biden then responded to Trump’s claim, “It’s a good thing that Trump will not come, and this is also one of the few things that I have reached a consensus with him.”
According to people familiar with the matter, Trump plans to leave the White House on the morning of January 20th local time and fly to Mar-a-Lago in Florida on “Marine One”.
On the way, he also planned to stop at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland to attend his “Farewell Ceremony” and speak at the ceremony.
However, people familiar with the matter stressed that Trump may change the plan at any time.
Washington, D.C., is on standby to prevent violence.
On January 6th, local time, Trump supporters broke into the Capitol, causing a riot.
Analysts believe that the congressional riots are only the “start”. At present, some organizers who are trying to disrupt Biden’s inauguration have made harsh remarks, “We want to keep Washington, D.C. and the army busy on January 20”.
In order to prevent more serious violence on the day, Washington, D.C., began to stand ready.
The National Guard said in a statement that about 25,000 National Guard soldiers will be redeployed from all states to Washington, D.C., to ensure that Biden’s inauguration can be held smoothly.
Meanwhile, several blocks in Washington, D.C. have been “blocked down”.
From January 16 to 21 local time, except for authorized vehicles, many roads near the White House, the Capitol and the Supreme Court were closed to traffic.
The number of people watching the inauguration ceremony online may break the record.
In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic, there have also been some “changes” in the traditional inauguration of the President of the United States.
The ceremony is expected to be significantly smaller than before, with strict health and safety regulations, according to The Wall Street Journal.
After taking the oath of office, Biden will deliver an inaugural speech, which is expected to provide a detailed introduction to the coronavirus epidemic and economic downturn and call for national unity.
In a statement, the U.S. President’s Inauguration Committee said that due to the severe situation of the epidemic, after Biden’s inaugural speech, there will be no traditional celebration parade, but will be changed to “online parades”.
According to Forbes, more people than ever voted in the 2020 presidential election, which means that people’s attention to politics is gradually increasing. Therefore, it is expected that the number of people watching Biden’s inauguration online may break the record.
In the polarized political environment of the United States, millions of people want to witness the peaceful transfer of power from the government.
List of some candidates for Biden’s cabinet
Secretary of State Anthony Lincoln
Blinkin has been a working partner of Biden for nearly 20 years and served as a national security adviser during Biden’s presidency.
According to the New York Times, after taking office as Secretary of State, Blincoln’s first priority was to rebuild the image of the United States.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
As an African-American, Austin has repeatedly broken the “race ceiling”.
He is not only the first black deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Army, but also the first black commander of the U.S. Central Command.
Austin is expected to become the first black defense minister in American history.
Minister of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayokas
Majorcas was born in Cuba in 1959. During Obama’s administration, Mayorkas served as the deputy secretary of homeland security.
If his nomination is ultimately approved by the Senate, he will become the first Latino to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Minister of Finance Janet Yellen
Yellen, 74, was the 15th chairman of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018, and was the first woman to hold this position.
After being officially appointed, Yellen will become the first woman to lead the U.S. Treasury Department.
Minister of Justice Merrick Garland
On January 7th local time, Biden announced the nomination of Chief Justice Garland of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit of the District of Columbia as the United States Attorney General.
Garland is expected to help the Ministry of Justice break the chaotic deadlock.
Minister of Education Miguel Cardona
Cardona is a senior educator.
In 2003, at the age of 23, he was appointed president of Hanover School, becoming the youngest principal in Connecticut.
In 2019, Cardona was named Connecticut’s top commissioner of education, the first Latino to hold the position.
Dennis McDonald, Minister of Veterans Affairs
McDonald served as White House Chief of Staff under Obama and served as National Security Adviser to the United States from 2010 to 2013.
On December 10, 2020, local time, Biden announced the nomination of McDonald as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Minister of Health and Human Services Xavier Becera
In 2017, Becera became the Attorney General of California.
He is also considered a nominee for the Secretary of Justice.
Its nomination as Minister of Health and Human Services is “unexpected”.
If the nomination is finally confirmed, Becera will become the first Latino to lead the department.
Minister of Commerce Gina Raimondo
Born in Rhode Island in 1971, Raimondo successfully ran for governor of Rhode Island in 2014, becoming the first female governor of the state.
The president of the American Service Alliance has said that Raymondo’s political experience and business acumen can help her take advantage in her new position.
Minister of Energy Jennifer Granholm
Granholm has rich experience in politics. From 1999 to 2003, Granholm served as Michigan Attorney General.
From 2003 to 2011, Granholm was the 47th Governor of Michigan and the first woman to serve as Governor of Michigan.
Minister of Labor Martin Walsh
Walsh, the 53-year-old mayor of Boston, is regarded as a “middle-class favorite”.
“Walsh is committed to rebuilding the middle class,” Biden’s transition team said in a statement, and he has introduced policies of $15 per hourly minimum and paid family leave.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Faji
Faji, 69, is an Ohio House of Representatives.
If the final nomination is confirmed, Faji will become the first black woman to lead the department.
Minister of Transport Pete Buttigieg
Born in 1982, Buttigieg was the youngest candidate to run for the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Biden once said, “Boutigieg reminds me of my eldest son.”
Minister of the Interior Debbie Harland
Harland, 60, a supporter of the Green New Deal, has said she will promote the use of renewable energy to combat climate change.
After the nomination was finally confirmed, Harland would become the first Native American history to serve as Secretary of the Interior.
Minister of Agriculture Tom Wilsack
From 2009 to 2017, Versack served in the Obama administration as the Secretary of Agriculture.
Biden praised Versack when he said of his nomination, saying “no one knows American agriculture better than him”.
