The Atlantic
Any chance of a normal security environment for the president-elect evaporated during the Capitol siege.
Mark Makela / Getty
For the first time in modern American history, the possibility of a peaceful transfer of power is in doubt. Extremists swarmed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and at least some of them intended to hunt down and kill elected officials. During their riot, they left bloodstains on the inauguration grandstands.
Now, in the final hours of the Trump presidency, security forces have turned Washington, D.C., into a fortified encampment in an attempt to prevent further violence. The transformation of the U.S. Capitol into a Baghdad-style Green Zone is unlike anything Washington has seen since 9/11. Joe Biden, already physically isolated by COVID-19, will be further distanced from the American people, who have traditionally crowded onto the National Mall by the hundreds of thousands to witness a presidential swearing-in.
Bruce Springsteen and John Legend to perform on TV special to commemorate the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden
The Dancing In The Dark singer, 71, and All Of Me hitmaker, 42, will join Foo Fighters during the prime-time special
Eva Longoria and Little Fires Everywhere actress Kerry Washington will also be involved in the 90-minute show hosted by Tom Hanks
Other stars included in the line-up are Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi and Justin Timberlake
It comes after it was revealed that Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez will perform at the inauguration of President-elect Biden on January 20
Also joining Gaga and Lopez at the ceremony will be firefighter Andrea Hall and first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman
Biden moves his deputy attorney general pick Lisa Monaco into role advising on inauguration security
Monaco is a former Obama homeland security and counterterrorism advisor and career prosecutor
Inauguration rehearsal set for Sunday has been moved to Monday due to security concerns
Biden s team had also canceled an Amtrak trip from Wilmington to Washington and the capitol will be flooded by 20,000 troops by Wednesday with thousands already in place
FBI director Christopher Wray revealed agents are seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter about a number of events surrounding the inauguration
Officials have warned of plans for armed protests in Washington and all 50 states and activist groups have been concerned about the potential for violence
The city will be fortified with thousands of troops, police and specialized law enforcement units in advance of planned protests and the swearing-in of the new president.
Airbnb on Wednesday responded to calls from city officials who urged the company, VRBO and other rental hosts to take down their listings in the D.C. area until Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20