President-elect Joe Biden will take the oath of office and
become the 46th president of the United States today in an inauguration that
will look different than any other.
Thousands of National Guard troops are in Washington, D.C. to
tighten security after the violent insurrection of the Capitol. Thousands of
people normally gather at the National Mall to watch the inauguration, but the
capital has been under strict lockdown leading up to today.
Around 200 New York officers traveled to the nation’s capital
to assist with security.
Bronx native Jennifer Lopez is expected to perform at the
inauguration after Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem.
Another former Bronx resident, Supreme Court Justice Sonia
Sotomayor, will also be there to swear in Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
The moment will be especially historic as the first Latina
judge on the US Supreme Court will be swearing in the first woman to become
vice president. Harris will also be the first Black person and first person of
South Asian decent to be the vice president.
Biden and Harris will be sworn in around noon in front of the
Capitol building, and then Biden will address the nation.
Afterward, Biden and Harris will lay a wreath at the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery with former presidents
Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Biden will then receive a presidential escort from 15th
Street to the White House, which will be followed by a “Parade Across America.”
President Donald Trump says he will not be attending the
inauguration. He is expected to leave the White House at around 8 a.m.