All 50 US states preparing for armed protests ahead of Biden’s inauguration
All 50 state capitals across the US are bracing themselves for armed protests ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.
Officials are said to be beefing up security with up to 25,000 National Guard troops deployed to Washington DC as the FBI warned of potential violence across the country.
A leaked internal FBI bulletin also referenced ‘various threats to harm’ Mr Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
State governors have reportedly declared a state of emergency and sealed off buildings to the public to avoid a repeat of the deadly riots at Capitol Hill unleashed by Donald Trump’s supporters on January 6.
The Secret Service has also ordered the National Mall, where hundreds usually gather for the President’s swearing-in ceremony, to be shut to the public.
Meanwhile, dozens of streets miles away from the Capitol have been cordoned off as people are urged to watch the event at home.
The stringent security measures have been imposed as Mr Trump became the first US president in history to be impeached twice.
He now faces a Senate trial on a charge of ‘incitement of insurrection’ in the wake of the violence.
Mr Biden has vowed to take immediate action to reverse the ‘gravest damages’ of Mr Trump’s administration.
He will enact a string of executive orders including lifting restrictions on immigration from predominantly Muslim countries and move to have the US rejoin the Paris Climate accord.
Face masks will become mandatory on federal property and during inter-state travel in a bid to address the rapid spread of coronavirus.
Mr Biden’s incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain, wrote in a memo to senior staff: ‘These executive actions will deliver relief to the millions of Americans that are struggling in the face of these crises.
‘President-elect Biden will take action – not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration – but also to start moving our country forward.’
‘Full achievement’ of Mr Biden’s goals will require Congress to act, Mr Klain wrote, including a 1.9 trillion dollar (£1.46 trillion) virus relief bill.
The new President hopes to expand virus testing and provide economic relief to those suffering financially due to the pandemic.
He is also planning a directive to speed up the process to reunite families separated at the US-Mexico border.
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