America United theme unveiled ahead of Joe Biden inauguration

11 January 2021, 18:04

Preparations take place for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration (Patrick Semansky/AP)
Inauguration. Picture: PA

Outgoing President Donald Trump will not attend the event.

The theme for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration will be America United, an issue that has long been a central focus for Mr Biden but one that has taken on added weight in the wake of the violence at the US Capitol last week.

In an announcement, the Presidential Inaugural Committee said that the theme “reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future”.

In keeping with the theme of unity, the committee also announced that after he is officially inaugurated, Mr Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and their spouses will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, and will be joined there by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and their wives.

It will be one of Mr Biden’s first acts as president, and a show of bipartisanship at a time when the national divide is on stark display.

President-elect Joe Biden (Susan Walsh/AP)
President-elect Joe Biden (Susan Walsh/AP)

The focus on unity has characterised Mr Biden’s presidential run from the start, and he has said repeatedly since winning the White House he sees unifying the country as one of his top priorities as president.

But the scope — and urgency — of the challenge Mr Biden faces became even clearer this week after President Donald Trump sparked an armed insurrection at the Capitol, spurred by his repeated attempts to delegitimise Mr Biden’s win.

Security will be tight.

The National Park Service announced on Monday it would shut down public access to Washington monument until January 24, citing threats surrounding inauguration.

Mr Trump himself is skipping Mr Biden’s inaugural, a decision Mr Biden said was a “good thing”, though Vice President Mike Pence and his wife plan to attend.

“This inauguration marks a new chapter for the American people — one of healing, of unifying, of coming together, of an America united,” said PIC chief executive Dr Tony Allen.

“It is time to turn the page on this era of division.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (Susan Walsh/AP)
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (Susan Walsh/AP)

“The inaugural activities will reflect our shared values and serve as a reminder that we are stronger together than we are apart, just as our motto ‘e pluribus unum’ reminds us — out of many, one.”

The committee also announced plans for a major public art display spanning multiple blocks of the National Mall that will feature 191,500 U.S. flags and 56 pillars of light, to represent every US state and territory.

After Mr Biden asked Americans to stay home for his inauguration, the Field of Flags is meant to represent “the American people who are unable to travel” to the Capitol to celebrate his swearing-in, according to the committee.

It is not the only Covid-era change to the festivities.

In keeping with crowd-size restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, Mr Biden will have a significantly pared-down inauguration, with traditional activities like the parade and the inaugural balls moving to a virtual format.

But even as the celebration itself will be smaller, inauguration officials are preparing a significant security presence in preparation for what may be more pro-Trump demonstrations across Washington.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

The sunset over a bay with fishing boats anchored in it.

British tourist dies after falling from balcony in Malta

Floods in the Barcelona town of Súria during the rainfall caused by the storm.

Spain storm warning as 100mm of rain fell in an hour submerging tourist hotspot

Family members mourn the loss of 15-year-old Akash Patni, who tragically died when an Air India flight crashed.

Families of Air India crash victims demand ‘justice and answers’ after report published

An investigation team inspects the wreckage of Air India flight 171 a day after it crashed in a residential area near the airport, in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025.

Fuel to engines on doomed Air India plane 'cut off' moments before crash killed 260, report finds

A firefighter stands next to a burnt-out car following mass Russian drone and missile strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv

Poland scrambles jets as Russia bombards Ukraine with massive overnight attack killing at least four

The US has held 'positive' talks with Zelenskyy

Trump confirms plans to send US air defence systems to Ukraine

Platja de Palma, Majorca, Mediterranean Sea, Balearic Islands, Spain, Southern Europe

Blow for holidaymakers in Mallorca as tourists slapped with swimming ban and popular beaches forced to close

Women mourn at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, where the victims of an Israeli strike which hit the Mustafa Hafez school, sheltering Palestinians displaced by the war, were brough

At least 789 people killed while receiving aid in Gaza, UN human rights office says

Carolina Wilga, 26, was found by a member of the public walking near the edge of a remote and rugged nature reserve after her van was discovered abandoned deep in the bush.

'Nothing short of remarkable': Backpacker Carolina Wilga found alive after 12 days in Australian outback

A teenager has died after being buried alive when a sand tunnel he was digging on a beach in Italy suddenly caved in.

Teenager suffocates to death after sand tunnel he built collapses on top of him

The woman drowned after being swept away by strong waves in Roda resort beach, Corfu Island, Greece.

Brit mum, 50, drowns in Corfu in front of husband and teenage son after being swept away by strong waves

Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is  suing Trump administration for $20m.

'It felt like kidnapping': Palestinian activist detained by ICE suing Donald Trump administration for $20m

Parts of an Air India plane that crashed on Thursday are seen on top of a building in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, June 13, 2025.

Investigators look into Air India's vital engine switches after plane crash killed 270 people

A top Ukrainian intelligence officer has been shot dead.

Ukrainian intelligence officer accused of sabotage attacks in Russia shot dead in Kyiv

A hospital has reported that children queuing for supplements have been killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.

10 children queuing for nutritional supplements killed in Israeli strike in Gaza, hospital says

Jota and his brother died in a car crash last week.

'You have my word they weren’t speeding': Truck driver who filmed Diogo Jota car crash aftermath disputes police report