On the eve of the presidential inauguration, Washington remained under lockdown with more than 25,000 National Guard troops stationed across the city. Razor wire, barriers, and vehicle checkpoints formed concentric security rings around the Capitol and National Mall. The Secret Service and FBI conducted final sweeps of government buildings and staging areas.
Outgoing President Donald Trump released a recorded farewell address from the White House, claiming his administration had “restored American strength” and condemning the violence of January 6 without accepting responsibility. He did not mention President-elect Joe Biden by name. Plans for a morning departure to Joint Base Andrews were confirmed, where he would hold a brief ceremony before flying to Florida.
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris attended a memorial at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool honoring the more than 400,000 Americans who had died of COVID-19. Lights lined the water as Harris called it “a collective moment of mourning and renewal.”
Across the capital, preparations continued late into the night. Technicians tested broadcast equipment, law enforcement rehearsed contingency drills, and streets stood silent under curfew.