PRES21-USA1: 2 FDC USA "J BIDEN - K. HARRIS 59th Presidential Inauguration 2021"

59th Presidential Inauguration - Joe BIDEN, 46th President of the United States of America - Kamala HARRIS, Vice President

The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States (Inauguration Day) took place on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. It marks the beginning of the term of Joe Biden as President of the United States and that of Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States. Three of the five former presidents still alive were present at the ceremony: Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Jimmy Carter, aged 96, was unable to travel for health reasons.

Outgoing President Donald Trump, refusing to accept defeat, refused to attend. He preferred to leave the White House and give a speech to supporters at Andrews Air Force Base (Maryland), a first in the United States since 1869.

Washington DC under siege

Following the assault on the Capitol on January 6 by violent pro-Trump supporters refusing defeat, security in Washington D.C. and in particular the perimeter around the Capitol was reinforced to prevent potential attacks. In a few days, 25,000 reservists, including 6,200 National Guard soldiers, were mobilized on site.

Covid-19: 200,000 flags symbolize the absent public

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and unlike previous inaugurations, the ceremony did not welcome an audience. In its place, nearly 200,000 United States flags were placed on the National Esplanade in front of the Capitol, meant to symbolize these absent citizens.

Two official “PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION DAY” postmarks were put into service on January 20, 2021 in Washington DC. They were affixed to all of our historical philatelic covers, produced in limited editions.