The day before taking office, Biden plans to travel to the nation’s capital on a family train trip that will be part of the festivities leading up to the January 20 inauguration, people familiar with the plans told CNN.
Although plans for the inauguration were shaken this week by the violent attack on the Capitol, along with relentless complications from the coronavirus pandemic, Biden and his top advisers instructed his team to move forward, without being stopped by the steep challenges.
“He was elected during a pandemic. He will take office during one,” said a Biden ally. “We will have a safe and historic opening and we will not be discouraged.”
Still, it will be anything but normal, given President Donald Trump’s refusal to attend the inauguration ceremony. Neither Biden’s transition nor the inaugural teams commented on Trump’s decision to stay away, but two people close to planning say they are relieved to finally know his intentions, without having a last-minute surprise appearance.
With 12 days to go, the event is in urgent planning.
The traditional parade will be replaced by a virtual event, which is being designed in a format similar to the calling list at the Democratic convention that ended up becoming a viral highlight of the reduced event.
But for Biden, the train ride to Union Station in Washington – from Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railway Station in Wilmington – will kick off the festivities. These plans, advisers said, are not scheduled to change, despite last week’s events in the country’s capital.
It would be an appropriate time for the man who made about 8,000 round trips on that same route during his time as senator and vice president – which earned him the nickname “Amtrak Joe” – and who left Washington four years ago. train on his last day as vice president.
Biden is planning to spend the night before his inauguration at a Washington hotel, people familiar with the plans say, and will move to the White House after it has been completely cleaned up, given the strict coronavirus protocols he follows.
His official move date to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has yet to be determined. It may be on the evening of January 20 or the days immediately following.