US presidential inauguration: Joe Biden, Kalama Harris investiture in pictures
America President Joe Biden was inaugurated on Wednesday amidst probably the heaviest security in the history of the country’s presidential inaugurations.
More than 25,000 soldiers were deployed on the streets of Washington to avert a recurrence of the January 6 insurrection at which thousands of Trump supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol, prompting the House and Senate to abruptly take a recess as the U.S. Capitol Police locked down the building.
The protests were timed to coincide with Congress’ certification of the Electoral College votes and aim to pressure Republican lawmakers into supporting Trump’s effort to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The insurrection failed to achieve its aim and Mr Biden was duly inaugurated on January 20 but without the massive crowd that grace such events as COVID-19 ravages the US.
The United States is struggling to cope with a COVID-19 outbreak that has killed more than 400,000 and infected millions.
Below are pictures from the event courtesy of the BBC.
