Joe Biden inauguration rehearsal paused as Capitol building goes into lockdown
- by Lorene Schwartz
- in People
- — Jan 19, 2021
In previous years, inauguration ceremonies have been threatened by foreign terrorist groups and sympathizers, but this year, said Murphy, the focus is on continuing to identify people who participated in or were sympathetic to the attack at the capitol. His presidency ends at noon on Wednesday. "Our house", destroying property and sifting through lawmakers' papers as they breached the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
Trump is expected to break the tradition of making a low-key public address on the day of Biden's inauguration when he hosts a televised rally in Florida, where he may announce a 2024 re-election bid, sources told Axios in December. Biden has said he'll use part of his inaugural address to urge Americans to commit to wearing masks for at least 100 days to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic that has now killed nearly 400,000 Americans.
Biden will then take part in a "Pass in Review", a ceremonial military tradition marking the peaceful transition of power to a new Commander-in-Chief. Former President George W. Bush raised just over $US500 million for his "Presidential Centre" in Dallas, which is expected to be the same amount it will to cost to build former President Barack Obama's own library in Chicago.
"Afterwards, the new president will receive a military escort to the White House before the evening" events begin.
In the aftermath of last week's Capitol riots, Washington D.C.is preparing for the scaled down inauguration of the 46th US President with extreme security measures - closing roads, erecting barbed wire fences and deploying more than 25,000 National Guards along with thousands of local police personnel and those from other security agencies.
Most Americans Expect More Attempted Violence during Week of Inauguration
His longtime bank, Deutsche, has said it no longer wants him as a customer.Trump is reportedly more isolated than ever. Local officials have been ramping up security, especially in the battleground states where Biden narrowly beat Trump.
Protests are being held outside capitol buildings in Texas, Oregon, Michigan, Ohio and elsewhere. There will also be no parade or inaugural balls. On Tuesday, Biden and Harris will lead virtual commemorations across the country for the 400,000 Americans killed by COVID-19.
Earlier this month, a crowd of supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump had stormed the US Capitol, raising security concerns.
NEW: White House sends invitations for Trump's departure event at Joint Base Andrews-starts at 8a Wednesday. Vice President Mike Pence, however, will be attending the inauguration. The National Mall and iconic US landmarks will be closed to visitors into next week. A woman was arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer near an inauguration security checkpoint in Washington D.C. Saturday morning. Meanwhile, downtown Washington DC, was virtually empty, with streets near the Capitol closed and battalions of camouflaged National Guard soldiers taking up positions across the city center.
But law enforcement officials said there was no threat to the public and the fire was not believed to be a threat to the inauguration.
The Joint Intelligence Bulletin, produced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and National Counterterrorism Center, further warned that "false narratives" about electoral fraud would serve as an ongoing catalyst for extremist groups.