Biden inauguration: Expect smaller crowds and more social distancing



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A parade is also involved.

Newly inaugurated Presidents often took part in a slow stroll along Pennsylvania Avenue, then watched local marching bands and other floats from the review stand near Lafayette Park. The January booth is ready, but hosting a parade would invite large crowds to gather along the route, which Mr Biden will likely want to avoid.

A scaled-down celebration might also be cheaper to host due to reduced security and travel costs, although Mr Demissie said video production and broadcasting from remote locations for a more virtual inauguration would be. also expensive.

There were signs on Monday that while Mr Biden may not be trying to outdo his predecessor, who raised a record $ 107 million for his 2017 festivities, he would welcome donations from individuals and wealthy companies.

Mr Biden’s team has said it will accept donations of up to $ 500,000 from individuals and up to $ 1 million from businesses, according to an official involved in the planning. The cap is set by each president and has fluctuated over the years, with new leaders taking advantage of the inauguration to set the tone for their presidencies. Mr. Obama, for example, banned corporate gifts completely in 2009 and capped individual gifts at $ 50,000 before easing restrictions in 2013. Mr. Trump, on the other hand, accepted $ 5 million from Sheldon Adelson, the conservative casino mogul.

Mr Biden’s team sent a mixed message. Its inauguration will not accept donations from fossil fuel companies, defined as “companies primarily engaged in the extraction, processing, distribution or sale of oil, gas or coal”, or their managers. – a group that gave Mr. Trump about $ 10 million. Mr. Biden will also not accept funds from registered lobbyists.

But this is a relatively small subset of Washington’s lucrative influence industry, and Mr Biden’s team has indicated that they will still accept certain gifts from corporations and trade associations, who usually flood the inaugurations of new presidents with money to promote the goodwill of officials. It remained to be seen whether Mr Biden would roll out the kind of exclusive VIP packages that typically appeal to big donors.

He also chose Katie Petrelius, the national finance director who oversaw an effort that raised record amounts for his campaign, to serve in a similar role as the primary fundraiser for his nomination, according to a person familiar with the appointment.

Eric Lipton and Kenneth P. Vogel contributed reporting.

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