Biden’s Presidency Beckons Today
- The United States’ coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll surpassed 400,000, representing the highest death toll of any country in the world.
- President-elect Joe Biden is planning to participate in a service holding at the Lincoln Memorial to honour the 400,000 Americans lost in the global pandemic.
- Outgoing President Donald Trump shared his farewell address to the nation. Trump, who is leaving Washington before Biden’s inauguration, wished the new administration success but did not utter the name of his successor.
- Vice President Mike Pence confirmed he will not attend the President’s farewell event holding just hours before Biden’s inauguration. Pence’s office released his schedule for the day and it includes only one event: the inauguration of Biden and Kamala Harris.
- Senate Republican Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell acknowledged the violent mob that attacked the Capitol earlier this month was “provoked by the president”. He said in a floor speech on Tuesday afternoon that; “The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people.”
- Two National Guard troops were removed from inauguration duty due to ties to far-right militia groups, according to the AP. The FBI has been vetting the thousands of National Guard troops sent to provide security for Biden’s inauguration
- Joe Biden and his family arrived at Joint Base Andrews, just outside of Washington, after a short flight from Delaware. The trip came just a day before he will be inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The President-elect has lined up a service at the Lincoln Memorial to honour thousands of Americans who have died of coronavirus. – With The Guardian reports
