COVID-19, Civil Unrest, and Biden Inauguration

Tomorrow, the United States will officially undergo the 46th presidential administration in its history with the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden (D).

The Biden Administration will be a historic one, as it will bring in the first female Vice President, and the oldest president was ever sworn into the presidency.

On top of all that, the inauguration will take place in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 400,000 Americans.

Typically, the U.S. Congress is allotted a total of 200,000 tickets for their constituents to attend a presidential inauguration however, each lawmaker will only be allowed to have two in order to discourage travel.

The inauguration attendance is expected to match the population of a typical State of the Union Address, which is roughly 1,000 people.

One of the biggest parts of the inauguration is the many events that happen afterward.  While there will still be a parade, the presidential balls have been converted to virtual celebrations, something never done before.

And in response to recent political tensions, this inauguration will be the most regulated with security measures.

Over 25,000 members of the National Guard have been ordered to the Capitol in order to keep the peace between the event and Far-Right extremists, along with physical barriers constructed around the Capitol to obstruct violence on Capitol Hill.

Even after being advised to hold the event indoors, Biden insisted the event remain outside, no matter the potential of domestic threat.

One of the few conventional things about inauguration days will only partially stay consistent.  Presidents of the past have been known to attend inaugurations, and in attendance will be George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama along with the former first ladies.

Unfortunately, President Jimmy Carter at 96, the oldest living president, will not attend.

45th President Donald Trump (R) will not attend, making him the first president to not attend his successor's inauguration since Andrew Johnson in 1869.  Alongside, President Trump joins our own Senator Marco Rubio (R) in being absent from the inauguration.

Even with Trump's absence, he still wants to leave the White House in a big way, with many White House staffers hinting at a very extensive list of pardons for his last day.