Wednesday is the U.S. presidential inauguration ceremony, the Washington area to strengthen security measures, while the Trump administration and the Biden team handover.
Following the violence that rocked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, more than 20,000 National Guard troops are now in Washington, working with federal law enforcement, Capitol Police, and the D.C. Police Department to ensure that both the Capitol and the White House are safe for Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.
On Sunday, Jan. 17, several street intersections near the White House were barricaded with iron fences and concrete retaining walls, and in addition to being inaccessible to cars, the fenced-off sections required identification to enter the area before they would be released. The Voice of America reporter chatted with a security officer who said he was actually not familiar with Washington and was deployed from out of town for support. In addition to all the security around the area, there are at least three hurdles to pass in order to enter the White House. First, you have to pass through a metal detector at a security checkpoint on the road outside, and your belongings are scanned by a machine. When you get to the iron fence outside the White House administration building, you have to show your ID again. Finally, when you enter the White House, you pass through the Secret Service again. Secret Service personnel told me that more security measures will be tightened in the next two or three days.
President Trump has previously indicated that he will not attend Wednesday’s presidential inauguration. According to the White House schedule, President Trump will first travel to Andrews Air Force Base, where he will receive a send-off ceremony arranged by the Defense Department, at which he is expected to likely speak. He will then depart on Air Force One and is expected to arrive at Palm Beach Airport in Florida at 11 a.m.; by rule, President Trump can only use Air Force One until noon that day.
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife are expected to attend Biden’s inauguration. Pence already spoke with Vice President-elect Harris on the phone last Thursday, in addition to congratulating her on her election and assisting with the job transition. Pence’s weekend itinerary was a tour of the U.S. military, starting with a visit to the Navy base in Lemoore, California, on Saturday. Addressing the troops, Pence said the Trump administration is the only one in recent decades that has not started a new overseas war. Pence also urged the Biden administration to continue the Trump administration’s approach to China, saying, “I urge the incoming administration to continue on this path, to do what we’ve done, to stand up to China’s aggression and trade abuses. Stand up for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and put America and our freedom-loving allies first.”
Pence, for his part, traveled to New York on Sunday to inspect the U.S. military. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris had no public trip Sunday.
Several former presidents will attend Biden’s inauguration Wednesday, including the Obamas, the Clintons, and the Bushes. Due to the new crown epidemic, former President Jimmy Carter, who is older, will not be able to attend for health reasons.
In addition, according to reports, President Trump is planning to issue more pardons before he leaves office and is expected to announce them on Tuesday.
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