Biden's inauguration festivities will be 80 percent virtual, Clyburn says

President-elect Joe Biden won't exactly be getting sworn in over Zoom this January, but certainly don't expect his inauguration to look like usual.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), co-chair of Biden's inaugural committee, told MSNBC on Tuesday that the festivities for the upcoming inauguration will be largely virtual amid the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
"We will be setting an example with this inauguration," Clyburn said. "It is going to be what we might call a hybrid. He'll take the oath in the traditional way, but all of the inaugural festivities are going to be 80 percent what we would call virtual."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Biden's inauguration will be taking place in January right around the time when health experts have warned of a potential new surge in COVID-19 cases due to holiday gatherings, with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, predicting the middle of January could "be a really dark time for us."
Previously, Biden said that "my guess is that there probably will not be a gigantic inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue" for his inauguration, but "you'll see a lot of virtual activity in states all across America, engaging even more people than before," Politico reports.
Clyburn explained to MSNBC on Tuesday that while the plan is for Biden to take the oath of office in a "traditional fashion," the "luncheon afterwards probably won't take place," and the "festivities of the evening will probably be dispersed out among the 50 states." The 2020 Democratic National Convention previously took place mostly virtually in August, and Clyburn told MSNBC, "I thought the convention went extremely well, and that's what we're going to do here, run this pretty much like we did our national convention."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Nare Hotel: a charming hideaway on the Cornish coast
The Week Recommends Upgrade your classic seaside holiday at this five-star country house hotel
By Theo Tait Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 6, 2025
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - weird science, Hoover's heels, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Gilbert & George and the Communists: an 'illuminating' look at the 'peculiar' world of the art duo
The Week Recommends The collaborative art pair's journey to Moscow in 1990 is chronicled in this 'excellent' book
By The Week UK Published
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to Congress
Speed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spat
Speed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's Mexico and Canada tariffs begin, roiling markets
Speed Read Stocks plunged after Trump affirmed that the tariffs would take effect, sparking a likely trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firings
speed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump vows 25% tariffs on EU at Cabinet meeting
Speed Read The tariff threats serve to enhance a growing suspicion that the president views Europe as an adversary, not an ally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump proposes 'gold card' visas for rich immigrants
speed read The president claimed the US will begin selling $5 million visas offering permanent residency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House passes framework for big tax and spending cuts
Speed Read Democrats opposed the GOP's plan for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts, citing the impacts it will have on social programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published