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United States: five things to know before the inauguration of Joe Biden

2021-01-19T11:49:32.241Z


FOCUS - After taking an oath on the Bible, the Democrat will officially become the 46th President of the United States at noon on Wednesday.


Joe Biden will take possession of the White House on Wednesday when he is officially invested as the 46th President of the United States.

Every four years, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the federal capital and fill the lawn of the National Mall which faces the steps of Congress to attend this great mass of American democracy.

Covid-19 requires, access to the ceremony will be severely restricted and, for the first time, the authorities have invited Americans to follow the swearing-in from home.

Read also: Washington converted into an entrenched camp

Before the ceremony,

Le Figaro

takes stock of what you need to know about the investiture of Joe Biden.

  • A very codified exercise

"I solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the office of President of the United States and that to the best of my ability, I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

At noon sharp - 6 p.m. in Paris - from the steps of the Capitol, Joe Biden will recite after the President of the Supreme Court the oath that will make him the 46th President of the United States.

Custom has it that the president raises his right hand at this time and places the left on a Bible.

The ritual is not enshrined in the Constitution, but the presidents conscientiously choose the work.

Barack Obama had selected two, one bible that belonged to Martin Luther King and another to Abraham Lincoln.

This had been taken over by his successor Donald Trump who had attached a copy kept from his childhood.

Catholic, Joe Biden will take an oath on a bible in his family since 1893. He will then deliver the traditional inauguration speech which, according to the organizers, will underline the need to reconcile the Americans.

A way to stand out from its predecessor who had opted for a very offensive tone.

  • An upset ceremony

Joe Biden will deliver his speech in front of a field of American flags.

Closed to the public, the National Mall, an esplanade where spectators usually congregate, was covered with 191,500 star-spangled banners.

The elected representatives of Congress, who distribute up to 200,000 invitations to their constituents, have only had the right to invite one accompanying person.

Once invested, Joe Biden planned to cross the bank of the Potomac to reach Arlington cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the company of three former presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

At the start of the afternoon, the traditional parade along Pennsylvania Avenue, also without an audience, will be replaced by a virtual “Parade Across America”.

The dinner with the parliamentarians in the precincts of the Capitol also paid the price for the health crisis, just like the balls which usually punctuate this evening in Washington.

Instead, actor Tom Hanks will host a television special.

Read also: The Covid-19 and the attack on the Capitol upset the nomination of Joe Biden

  • Authorities on the alert

The murderous assault on the Capitol on January 6 also changed the course of the day.

An imposing security system has been put in place to guard against possible disturbances.

Nearly 25,000 armed national guards will crisscross the streets of the federal capital.

The backgrounds of these reservists have been pre-checked by the FBI to ensure they pose no risk.

A large “red zone” surrounds Capitol Hill and the White House where a two-meter palisade, deemed impassable, has been deployed.

In a large part of the city, metro stations will be closed.

Concrete blocks have been laid in the middle of the roads.

A large “red zone” surrounds Capitol Hill and the White House where a two-meter palisade, deemed impassable, has been deployed.

EDUARDO MUNOZ / REUTERS

The threat is real.

At least two armed civilians have been arrested in recent days on the outskirts of the "red zone".

On one of them, the police found a loaded handgun and more than 500 rounds of ammunition.

In Florida, a former army soldier was arrested this weekend after calling on supporters of the outgoing president to take up arms.

To read also: Inauguration of Biden: extraordinary security measures in Washington

  • An audience of celebrities ...

The nomination is also the occasion for a deployment of celebrities, an American-style show.

This year, Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem.

The one Joe Biden calls his "great friend" had already performed at his last big meeting.

She succeeds Aretha Franklin or Beyonce who sang

The Star-Spangled Banner

for Barack Obama.

Jennifer Lopez will also appear at the podium, organizers further disclosed.

The group The New Radicals has reformed for the occasion and will perform during the virtual parade.

Joe Biden had told in his book

Promise Me, Dad

that their hit,

You Get What You Give

, became an anthem for his family during the illness of his son Beau, who died of a brain tumor in 2015. Justin Timberlake and the singer Demi Lovato will participate in the special show scheduled for the evening.

Four years ago, Donald Trump, little appreciated by the entertainment world, struggled to bring together stars for his ceremony.

  • ... and a big absentee

The outgoing president will be absent from the ceremony. Donald Trump is expected to leave the federal capital at dawn on Wednesday aboard Air Force One. Destination: Palm Beach, Florida. He will spend the day in his luxurious club in Mar-a-Mago, where he plans to settle. Her children are also planning to flee Washington on Wednesday. Tradition has it that the outgoing President and the First Lady welcome the new tenants of the White House on the morning of the inauguration and then all go to the Capitol. Barack Obama and George W. Bush both left the Capitol in the presidential helicopter at the end of the ceremony and then returned to their home state. Donald Trump is the first president since Andrew Johnson in 1869 to refuse to attend the swearing-in of his successor. Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter has also been excused this year because of his great age, 96.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-01-19

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