Written by Karim Dergal
The Presidential Inauguration has been a historic event. Every four years, citizens and supporters rally to celebrate the appointment of the next president of the United States of America. The Presidential Inauguration this year, the year of 2021, marks the commencement of the 46th United States President, Joe Biden. However, certain conditions have altered the environment of the Presidential Inauguration, many of which have never been experienced before. From being in the worst health pandemic over the last century to the previous president not attend, this Presidential Inauguration is one to remember.
For all presidential inaugurations, supporters gather at the U.S. Capitol Building to cheer and observe as their candidate takes office. Nonetheless, it goes without being said that people visiting is not possible this year. Currently, under a surge of Coronavirus cases and still in the middle of the pandemic, people couldn’t show their support for the new U.S. President. To replace people, the White House filled the National Mall with two hundred thousand flags, as pictured below, as a sign of welcoming for the new president.
Filling the National with flags wasn’t the only unique part of the inauguration. Over the last 152 years, the previous president attended the presidential inauguration of the newly elected president. This year broke that cycle. Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States, decided not to attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration. It was not wholly unexpected, as he had tweeted he would “not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,” nearly two weeks before, on January 8th. The morning of the inauguration, he boarded the Air Force 1 plane and made his way to Florida.
When asked if she would go to an inauguration, junior Carolina Wesley said: “I would love to attend an inauguration someday, of someone I support. It would be an amazing way to experience what our democracy can yield.” She then added that her favorite part this year was “the Bernie Sanders memes. I honestly think they are so funny.”
Senior Anna Abgaryan said her “favorite part was seeing all the different outfits. It looked like a political Met Gala.”
The attire, some of which is pictured below, was colorful and professional, yet another reason this year’s inauguration stood out.
Sources
Silverstein, Jason. “Trump Will Be First President in 152 Years to Skip His Successor's Inauguration.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 8 Jan. 2021, www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-will-not-attend-biden-inauguration/.
Nadworny, Elissa. “Nearly 200,000 Flags On National Mall Represent Those Who Cannot Attend Inauguration.” NPR, NPR, 20 Jan. 2021, www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958726800/nearly-200-000-flags-on-national-mall-represent-those-who-cannot-attend-inaugura.
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