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By Liam McCarthy (‘22)
On January 20th, 2021 President-elect Joe Biden was sworn into the White House, officially making him the 46th president of the United States. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this inauguration ceremony was like no other. In an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Biden administration set up strict testing and took social distancing precautions. The National Mall, usually filled with supporters of the soon-to-be president, was nearly empty. Few socially distanced seats were dedicated to lawmakers and other government officials.
According to USA Today, typically nearly 200,000 official inauguration tickets are handed out by congressional offices, though this year each member was only allowed a ticket for themselves and one guest. While the area surrounding the inauguration is usually filled with hundreds of thousands of guests, this year it is estimated only 2,000 people attended.
Though former President Donald Trump did not attend the event, according to Fox News, past presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton attended. Former first ladies, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hilary Clinton also attended the inauguration.
Earlier in the morning, the same day of the inauguration, Trump and his family departed from the white house. Before leaving for his home in Florida, Donald Trump delivered his farewell speech to America at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. “Have a good life,” Trump said, “We will see you soon.”
President Biden’s inauguration took place on the same grounds where the capitol riots occurred just a few weeks earlier. Though the capital had recently been stormed by Trump supporters, President Biden believed it was crucial to have his inauguration ceremony occur on the West Front of the Capitol.
According to the New York Times, Biden believed that he should have his inauguration ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol to show the world that “democracy would endure in the face of even the most strident attempts to upend it.”
The inauguration ceremony was filled with many different singers and poets. Such performers included Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Garth Brooks, and Amanda Gorman. Amanda Gorman is a 22-year-old poet, the youngest individual in U.S. history to deliver a speech on inauguration day. Lady Gaga performed the National Anthem, Jennifer Lopez performed “This Land Is Your Land” and Garth Brooks performed “Amazing Grace.”
Following such performances, both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden were sworn into the White House. Upon placing her hand on Thurgood Marshall’s Bible, Harris was sworn in first. Immediately after, using the Bible which has been in his family for generations, Joe Biden was sworn in.
The day ended with a performance by Katy Perry in which she sang her hit song “Firework.” The inauguration went smoothly as Trump departed from the White House and President Biden has moved in.
All photos from The New York Times
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