Joe Biden to take oath as President in a dramatically reshaped ceremony

Joe Biden, 78, will take oath as the 46^th President of the United States in Washington tonight. Kamala Harris will also be sworn in as Vice president of the country.

Joe Biden will deliver his inaugural address. He will lay out the vision for his administration over the next four years. Biden will elaborate on his plans to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, strengthen the economy and unify the nation.

The official ceremony will conclude with a “Parade Across America,” that features communities from across the nation and their performances.

Security Measures Ramped Up

Weeks after the Capitol Hill siege, there are extraordinary levels of security in place for the inauguration ceremony.

U.S. security officials said that every precaution is being taken to guard against an attack on President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. They said that 25,000 members of the National Guard assigned to Washington to protect the event.

Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said in a statement that troops are being given extra training as they arrive in Washington and told that if they see or hear something that is not appropriate, they should report it to their chain of command.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray had said earlier that FBI was looking into people who possibly could threaten the safety of the inaugurations.

Biden has asked Lisa Monaco, his nominee for deputy attorney general and former President Barack Obama’s counter-terrorism adviser, to serve as a homeland security adviser on a temporary basis for the inauguration.

Lincoln Memorial Speech

The new President to be landed in the Capital on Tuesday, and led a national service at Lincoln Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of Covid-19. At least 400,000 Americans have died of the disease so far.

Speaking at the ceremony, Biden said, “It’s hard sometimes to remember. But that’s how we heal. It’s important to do that as a nation. That’s why we’re here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all whom we lost.”

Ceremony Timings

The Presidential inauguration ceremony will start at 9:00 pm (Pakistan Standard Time).