On the 18th (local time) in Olympia, Washington, USA, more than 100 citizens are marching on a street against President Donald Trump carrying pickets calling for a peaceful transfer of power. [AP = 연합뉴스] Elect Joe Biden begins his term as the 46th President of the United States at noon on the 20th (2am KST on the 21st). On the 19th, he moved from his home in Wilmington, Delaware to Washington, DC, attended a commemoration event for the deaths of Corona 19, and stayed overnight at a guesthouse (Blair House) right next to the White House. President Donald Trump leaves for Florida on the morning of the 20th after spending his last night at the White House on the same day.
However, the atmosphere of America in a new era is heavier than ever. The Corona 19 pandemic still threatens the lives and jobs of the people. The Corona 19 incident served as a decisive moment for Biden’s election, but it was also the first test bench as a president. In addition, due to the severe aftereffects of the presidential election, the national opinion was divided, and the inauguration ceremony was barely held within the strict boundaries reminiscent of an exhibition.
Biden’s greatest strength, who declared that he would rebuild the United States, is his rich experience in state affairs. He served as senator for 36 years and served as vice president for eight years in the Barack Obama administration. On the other hand, concerns are raised that there is a lack of charisma or concrete measures to overcome the crisis.
On the 18th (local time), supporters of President Donald Trump are selling t-shirts with the phrase’Biden is not my president’ in Richmond, the capital of Virginia. [로이터 = 연합뉴스] Many roads, bridges, and subway stations near the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and the National Mall, including the Federal Parliament House, the site of the inauguration ceremony, were closed. CBS broadcast the atmosphere around the Capitol Building surrounded by fences, saying, “As the inauguration week began, Washington DC turned into a fortress.” The National Mall area was restricted from public access from the 15th. Thirteen subway stations in the city center have been closed, and 26 bus lines are operating bypassing the security area.
The National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak) announced on the 18th that it would temporarily suspend the operation of trains in the northeastern United States in consideration of security issues at the inauguration ceremony. Accordingly, train operations in the southern area of Washington DC will be restricted from the 19th to the 20th.
Amtrak said, “Road blockade and parking restrictions, as well as transfer-related changes will be applied until after the inauguration ceremony.” Biden has been using Amtrak for decades to travel to and from the Washington DC Capitol from his Wilmington, Delaware home, but at this inauguration ceremony, he decided not to take the train due to increased security.
Also, on the 18th, a fire broke out in the vicinity, causing the inauguration rehearsal to be temporarily suspended. The New York Times (NYT) reported that a small fire broke out in a homeless camp near the Capitol at 10:15 a.m. that day, a blockade was ordered and anxiety reached extremes. He added, “Even though a large-scale National Guard in Washington DC was put in, the smoke erupted, and employees were frightened and evacuated at the rehearsal site of the inauguration ceremony.
Deputy Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Kuccinelli, said in a media interview on the day that 25,000 National Guard troops will be put on the scene until the inauguration ceremony and that the troops are ready for all situations. “We experience all kinds of curveballs,” said Acting Kuchinelli. “We will work to keep the American people as safe as possible.”
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is conducting a thorough background check of 25,000 members of the National Guard.
Regarding this, local foreign media said, “This is to block the possibility of a’insider attack’ against Biden-elect or distinguished participants.” The inauguration ceremony begins at 11:30 am on the 20th at the west outdoor stage of the Capitol with an opening remark, national proposal, and prayer.
After that, vice president-elect Kamala Harris, then Biden-elect, will hold the oath of office just before noon. At noon, Biden-elect will give his first speech to the public as president. Earlier, the British Guardian reported that Biden would wear a Ralph Lauren suit and attend the inauguration ceremony instead of the Brooks Brothers, the men’s suit that former U.S. presidents used to wear. 41 out of 45 previous presidents have been wearing Brooks Brothers suits, but the company filed for bankruptcy protection last year in the aftermath of Corona 19.
As the scale of the event has been significantly reduced due to Corona 19, only about 1,000 people attend the inauguration ceremony. At the inauguration ceremony, Lady Gaga sings the country and Jennifer Lopez presents a celebration. In the virtual parade that takes place right after the inauguration ceremony, the rock band’New Radicals’ reunites for just one day and performs.
It is known that actor Tom Hanks will be present at the celebration concert that will be held on the same evening video. In addition, famous singers, including John Legend, Justin Timberlake, and Bon Jovi, are all mobilizing. Brooks, a Republican and country singer who has won the No. 1 chart on the US Billboard 200 chart more than 50 times, announced at a press conference on the 18th that he would be attending an inauguration celebration performance and expressed his feelings as “the best day of our family.”
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