The inauguration of the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, came one day ahead. This inaugural event, held under the theme of’Integrated America’, was drastically reduced due to the aftermath of the novel coronavirus infection. It also takes place while the capital, Washington, DC, is virtually blocked out due to concerns over violent protests. Reporter Lee Yeon-cheol reports.
Ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, the borders on the capital, Washington, DC have been greatly strengthened.
The area around the White House and the Capitol where the inauguration ceremony is held is completely blocked by barbed wire and concrete barriers, and the State Defense Forces armed with automatic rifles are paying strict security.
The National Mall and surrounding roads in front of the Capitol, as well as major subway stations in downtown Washington, were closed, and all bridges from Virginia to Washington, DC were blocked.
State National Guard troops are deployed throughout Washington, DC, with plans to increase to 25,000 on the day of the inauguration ceremony.
In addition, in the wake of warnings that armed protests could take place in 50 states in the United States, they have increased the number of national defense forces or blocked Congress.
As such, on the 6th, concerns over riots, such as the invasion of President Donald Trump’s fierce supporters into the Capitol, are on the rise, and Biden’s inauguration ceremony will take place on the western staircase in front of the Capitol according to tradition.
[녹취: 베딩필드 차기 국장] “Our plan and our expectation is that President-elect Biden will put his hand on the Bible with his family outside on the west side of the Capitol on the 20th.”
Kate Beddingfield, the next White House Public Affairs Commissioner, appeared on the ABC broadcast on the 17th and said, “This inauguration ceremony will be an important visual image of the resilience of American democracy to the world.” The inauguration ceremony includes George Bush, Bill Clinton, and Former President Barack Obama and current Vice President Mike Pence attended, and President Trump said he would be absent.
President Trump is set to leave Washington a few hours before the inauguration ceremony after holding a separate retirement ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington.
At the inauguration ceremony, Vice President-elect Camela Harris first swears in front of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Latino’s first federal judge, while Biden reads the oath in front of Chief Justice John Roberts.
Following this, Biden-elect presents a blueprint for state administration through an inaugural speech.
White House secretary chief Ron Klein said in an interview with CNN on the 17th that Biden’s inauguration address was “a message to advance the country, integrate the country, and achieve work.”
In an interview with Fox News on the same day, Beddingfield’s next Public Affairs Director-elect, Biden said in his inaugural address, “We will leave behind the divisions and hatreds of the past four years and present a positive and optimistic blueprint for the country.”
After the election victory was confirmed, Biden-elect first suggested unification as a hot topic, and the theme of this inauguration ceremony is also’America United’.
Following the inaugural speech, singer Lady Gaga’s national solo song, Jennifer Lopez’s performance, and Pastor Sylvester Bieman’s prayers for prayer.
After the inauguration ceremony, Biden-elect inspects the military honor guard.
Next, President Biden and Vice President Harris move to Arlington National Cemetery together with former Presidents Bush, Clinton, and Obama, along with a married couple to make a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Afterwards, President Biden moved to the White House, escorted by army bands and joint honor guards, and began his duties as president.
The inauguration ceremony was drastically reduced in the aftermath of the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection.
First, the number of people invited to the inauguration ceremony has been greatly reduced.
At the inauguration ceremony of the previous president, usually 200,000 invitations were sent. However, this year, due to the novel corona, there is no invitation for the general public, and members of the Senate and House of Representatives can only invite one person at a time.
Major inauguration events have also been replaced by virtual events online.
At a press conference held earlier last month, Biden said at a press conference earlier last month that a large parade from the Capitol to the White House would not be held due to safety concerns from the coronavirus.
[녹취: 바이든 당선인] “My guess is there will probably not be a gigantic inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.”
In the meantime, the past presidents held a grand parade, driving to the White House after the inauguration ceremony, and hundreds of thousands of people watching and cheering.
However, this year, to prevent the spread of the corona, the parade will be omitted and replaced with a virtual parade that is broadcast live across the country, Biden’s inauguration preparation committee said.
He added that the virtual parade will honor American heroes, highlight Americans from all walks of life, and reflect the new diversity and heritage of America.
In addition, the traditional presidential inauguration night prom is also omitted.
Instead, it will be replaced with a 90-minute TV show hosted by actor Tom Hanks and featuring famous celebrities, and will feature President Biden and Vice President Harris.
This is VOA News Lee Yeon-cheol.