Inauguration Day 2021

January 20, 2021

January 20, 2021 is the last day of Republican Donald Trump's presidency and the first day of Democrat Joe Biden's President. At noon (Eastern Time), Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States. But this years inauguration is very different.

To begin with security is very different from previous inaugurations. Thousands of National Guard troops are stationed in Washington, D.C. to assist local law enforcement secure the Capitol and the District of Columbia. Additional, State Police form other states are also there to help provide security. This is all to prevent a repeat of January 6, 2021 when a mob of Trump Supporters stormed the United States Capitol Building and disrupting the counting of the Electoral Vote in an apparent attempt to prevent Biden from being certified as President-Elect. There is also evidence to suggest that within the mob were groups and individual actors who were prepared for the event. Perhaps planing to take hostages. Furthermore the mob damaged Federal Property, stole federal property, stole and/or viewed sensitive documents, trespassed on Government property, left threatening messages, and even chanted threatening messages. These people need to face the consequences for their actions, but more importantly such a security disaster cannot happen again, which motivated the increased security we see at DC. DC has been locked-down as a part of the security measures, a really unprecedented action.

Another major difference is a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Pandemic has means a socially distanced inauguration, which on top of the increased security measures has lead to there being no allowed crowed on the National Mall as normal.

The last major difference is than outgoing president Donald Trump did not attend Biden's Inauguration. Mr. Trump is the first President since Andrew Johnson not to attend the inauguration of his successor. This is excluding Presidents who died in office and thus had no choice about their attendance. As we know, Trump was not a gracious loser, to put it mildly.

But I do not want to focus on the past, I want to focus on the future. A President is always judged by their First 100 Days. This tradition started as a result of the eventful and impactful first 100 Days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Presidency. In many ways, there are some similarities between Biden's and FDR's Presidency; they both have to face a national crisis as soon as they became President. President Lincoln also is in this boat, but his crisis was not economic. Roosevelt had to deal with the Great Depression, while Biden has to face a Pandemic and the corresponding economic recession. I think there is a good chance that Biden's Administration will institute many policies and programs that will become staples of American government and society, much like Roosevelt.

But focusing on Biden, I expect some of his first official actions as President will be a series of Executive Orders overturning many of Trump's Executive Orders. I hope and pray that Biden's time as President will be a time of reflection and change. That America is better off after his term than it is now. That we are able to shake off the ills of Trumpism. that we prevent the growth of domestic fascism and terrorism. That we focus on building a better America. An America that lives up to the American Dream. An America were People are not mistreated and discriminated against because of their skin color or ethnic or racial heritage. That America will live up the the Promise that All Men (and Women) are created Equal with the same Rights and Privileges as Citizens.

We are also making history in the swearing in of the United State's first Female Vice President. I hope we see more female VPs in the future and that we elect our first Female President in either 2024 or 2028.

As a final note, I did vote for Biden and am biased against Trump, but I hoped in this Inauguration Day Reflection blog, I attempted not to let my bias affect my post.