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Home » Trip Reports » Photo Essay: The 59th Presidential Inauguration
Trip Reports

Photo Essay: The 59th Presidential Inauguration

Matthew Klint Posted onJanuary 20, 2021November 14, 2023 46 Comments

I have much to say about my time in Washington, DC for the 59th Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, but photos often speak louder than words and I want to share some photos with you from the last two days.

59th Presidential Inauguration Photos

Spoiler alert: I was not able to see it in-person. But I also did not expect to, so there was only limited disappointment. This photo essay captures how the District of Columbia looked during this historic 2021 inauguration.

an aerial view of a city

a military truck on the street

a group of trucks parked in front of a building

a street with a tent and buildings

a large truck parked on a street

a military vehicles in front of a building

a street with buildings and a plane flying over it

a group of people standing on a road with a fence and trees

a fence with a spiral pattern on it

a metal fence with a street in the background

a group of people standing on a sidewalk in front of a building

a black and white photo of a park with a building in the background

a woman holding a sign in front of a building

a street with cars and trees

a fence on a sidewalk

a group of people in camouflage standing in front of a fence

a group of soldiers in a park

a tall monument in the distance

a group of people standing on a street

a gated entrance to a building

a close up of a fence

a person in a mask standing on a street

a fence with lights on

a street sign on a pole

a group of people in military uniforms standing in a line on a street

a group of people standing in front of a fence

a group of people in military uniforms

a car parked in a parking lot

a building with a dome and a dome on top

a statue in front of a building

a mosaic on a building

a group of police officers standing on a street

a police officer standing in a street

a police van on a city street

a group of police cars on a street

a group of people standing in front of a tent

a group of people in black uniforms

a street with a gate and people walking on it

a street with a red truck and buildings

a brick path with a fence and a tree

a group of people standing on the sidewalk near a building

a group of people holding signs

a sign on a fence

a building with many doors

a group of people in military uniforms on a sidewalk

a large hall with chairs and a large ceiling

a street with people walking on it

a group of soldiers on a street

a group of people in uniform standing in a street

a military vehicle parked on the side of a street

a military truck on the street

Tomorrow, I will offer written commentary and more photos from my time here. But let me say here how thankful I am not as Democrat or Republican, but as an American today. Our Republic was challenged yet again and prevailed.

The pomp and circumstance and bipartisanship on display was a sight to behold, even though it was not in-person this year. The recitation of the oath of office, swearing to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States is about far more than a man. On this day, let us celebrate another smooth transition of power. Let us pray that we will continue to work toward the goal of becoming a more perfect Union.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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46 Comments

  1. Shawn Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 2:55 pm

    Sooo … all those soldiers, national guardsmen and secret service folk actually let you photograph them? Color me mildly surprised if you were not harassed by them over it, Matthew!

    Still, it’s a nice photo essay. I like the way in which you start it off … (People often seem amazed when I tell them the kinds of details one can see from an airplane. People need to start watching and paying attention. ;)). Thanks!

  2. Gene Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    @ Matthew — Thanks for the Willard pic! Sad we couldn’t attend due to COVID, but I still think traveling is not worth the risk. We’ve waited patiently for 10 months; we can wait 3 more.

    • Heather Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 6:27 pm

      Love the Willard!

  3. Joey Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    So where did you watch the inauguration? In your hotel room?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 3:18 pm

      The Willard. I’ll have details on that tomorrow.

    • UA-NYC Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 3:21 pm

      Great report Matthew! Time to put this dark cloud of the past few years behind us. 46 will lead us forward.

  4. Bill n DC Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 3:20 pm

    Great Pictures from the Northwest! Especially outside the service at St Matthews and The Willard Lobby 😉
    To see pictures around Capitol Hill Neighborhood & Union Station east of the Capitol, friend me on Facebook 😉

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 3:57 pm

      Will do! Can’t wait to see your pictures.

  5. Debit Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    Very happy at the peaceful transition.

    See? When white Republican males are caged, neutered and muzzled they do start behaving like humans.

  6. Santastico Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    “Fuck White Jesus” sign was a great addition to the inauguration. As a white Roman Catholic himself, it would be interesting to see Biden’s opinion about people that write and carry those signs.

    • Debit Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 3:45 pm

      Jesus wasn’t white.

      And probably would have been a reluctant religious symbol, turned into one by people centuries later that needed some symbol to rally around.

      • Santastico Reply
        January 20, 2021 at 3:48 pm

        Yes, he was Native American. I forgot you met met him when he was born. You were one of the 3 kings.

        • Debit Reply
          January 20, 2021 at 4:07 pm

          You can continue to think he was white if that comforts you.

          He is a symbol that people can change to anything to have their spiritual needs met. He/it might be a cat for me.

          Religion must be only way off life where people gladly accept rigidity of thought and inflexibility just so they can have a tribe to identify with that embrace the same rigidity.

          • Santastico
            January 20, 2021 at 5:23 pm

            That is exactly my point. You said “He is a symbol that people can change to anything to have their spiritual needs met. He/it might be a cat for me.” I have no right to have a sign saying “Fuck cat Jesus” just because for me he is white. I should respect the way you see your Jesus. That is why this country is so f….ed up, because if you don’t like my Jesus I have to hate yours. That is why that sign is inappropriate. Jesus might be white for Biden. Who knows? People lost their respect for people and for their opinions.

        • GUWonder Reply
          January 20, 2021 at 8:08 pm

          Historical Jesus of Nazareth was a typical Jewish Semite of the region at the time. Most such people at the time looked more like a present-day Yemeni Arab than like an Israeli PM Netanyahu or the Jesus representations encountered in the homelands of most major, international Christian church organizations that are found in the Americas and Europe.

          Jesus was probably a black-haired, brown-eyed, brown-skinned guy whose hair was sort of curly.

        • Mik Reply
          January 21, 2021 at 6:49 am

          You do realise Jesus (the historical figure, I won’t go into the religious aspects of his life & legacy) was born in what today is the Middle East. How likely do you think it is that he was of caucasian ethnicity?

    • Shawn Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 7:11 pm

      Actually, the punctuation of that sign is pretty hilarious … and alters the meaning from what I believe was intended. What is actually written on the sign implies to me that someone was caught by White Jesus quite by surprise and is either none too pleased or frightened by the prospect. 🙂

      • GUWonder Reply
        January 20, 2021 at 8:13 pm

        Make grammar great again. 😀

        On a more serious note, I do think we are seeing an impoverishment of language when it’s so common to protest using vulgarities that wouldn’t be commonly accepted in the communication of young minors with their own parents and grandparents.

        • Santastico Reply
          January 20, 2021 at 8:27 pm

          @GUWonder: could not agree more. People lost respect and lack education.

          • 747always
            January 21, 2021 at 6:16 am

            And none more so than your orange skinned ex president

  7. Daniel Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 4:20 pm

    Our Republic was challenged yet again and prevailed.
    – I object. Trump may be out but Trumpism is here to stay.

    • UA-NYC Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 4:42 pm

      He will cleave the Republican party in half – the populists who ignore reality and believe a charlatan, and then the classic Republicans who believe in truth & order but are a diminishing lot these days.

      Will be a joy to see the infighting! Two disastrous elections in a row should teach them something…but I doubt it.

      • 747always Reply
        January 21, 2021 at 6:17 am

        To be fair, Trump is what the Republicans would have thrown up on their own in any case. From the 1970s onwards they have constantly been pushing an anti media agenda, and have shown an increasing willingness to do whatever is required to keep their political seats safe. Trump just sped the process up

  8. Hendrik Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 4:54 pm

    Very interesting to get some “behind the scenes” impressions from this very important day and I‘m looking forward to your written article! Danke! Greetings from FRA, Hendrik

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      January 23, 2021 at 12:14 pm

      How are things in FRA Hendrik? I miss it so much.

  9. GBSanDiego Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 6:10 pm

    Cool photos! Enjoyed!

  10. derek Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    Very interesting to see. I wonder if Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and White House was blocked to pedestrian traffic?

    This shows how the government is scared as a mouse. For TV purposes, it was good to have it in DC but for practical purposes, it would have been better if it were in a well controlled area, like Joint Base Andrews or Fort Belvoir. But President Biden got his military parade, albeit troops lounging, not marching. A military presence was something Trump wanted but never got.

    The BLM protesters are really offensive. What’s with this “Fuck White Jesus”? Why would someone want to anally rape the Son of God? Terrible.

    • GUWonder Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 8:18 pm

      Pedestrians had ways to walk from pretty close to Capitol Hill today to McPherson Square and then on to Foggy Bottom and Georgetown.

  11. Stephanie Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    No alcohol because your within 2,000 miles from your wife?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 10:38 pm

      ?

      • Christine Hall Reply
        January 20, 2021 at 11:56 pm

        LOL

  12. LAMPHS Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 7:27 pm

    Nice photo essay. I’ve watched every Inauguration starting with Bush 41; no matter who is being inaugurated; as well as every send off at JBA. And I got to participate as a volunteer public safety official at the 1st Clinton Inauguration, ending with a standby at the ball at the National Building Museum. That said, I am local to WDC, and even after 48 states and 49 countries, WDC is my favorite city in the world and I stay at the Willard one weekend a year. I am looking forward to the city returning to a normalcy.

  13. ChuckMO Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 7:29 pm

    MY Vice President is an Intellegent/Black/Asian/Woman with a Real Man as her life partner. Glad you were there Matthew, I had to work.

    • ChuckMO Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 7:32 pm

      yeah, I realized I spelled intelligent wrong.

    • Andy K Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 7:47 pm

      Why is he a Real Man?

      • ChuckMO Reply
        January 20, 2021 at 9:29 pm

        Because he’s secure enough in his masculinity to support a strong woman.

        • derek Reply
          January 21, 2021 at 3:44 pm

          Not so secure. He makes a few million a year while a Senator makes roughly $200k. He’s still the one with the pants. Of course, now his wife is VP so she could conceivable call in the Secret Service to beat him up if she’s mad.

  14. Debit Reply
    January 20, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/technology/proud-boys-trump.html

    This is a group looking for a fight. I am sure there are Republicans looking for a group easy to control by giving them cover for their acts. Trump for whatever reason refused to be that person. The DOJ really needs to get its head out of its ass. This group will only grow more emboldened in the future. Biden is a fool if he only wants to look forward. Many of his policies are likely to piss this group even more. Don’t bloody implement without creating an environment for them to be successful.

    • Debit Reply
      January 20, 2021 at 10:43 pm

      * implement policies

  15. Tommy Aroyo Reply
    January 21, 2021 at 7:00 am

    Absolutelly thrilled by this awesome event. Looking forward to a better, bigger, prosperous America. One Nation, Under God!

  16. Wayne Reply
    January 21, 2021 at 1:03 pm

    Great to see pictures of the Cathedral named after your patron Saint Matthew – the civil servant that he was.
    The District holds fond memories for me from graduate school and working for Eastern Airlines to pay my tuition.
    Lots has changed since then!
    Yesterday was a powerful step in the right direction towards unity, justice and peace
    Thank you

  17. dee Reply
    January 21, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    SO Portland and seattle on fire thanks to Antifa and nothing being done to stop or arrest the rioters/looters…that is the problem not the GOP and Trump

    • Another Steve Reply
      January 21, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      Things are being done in Seattle when protesters cause property damage. I don’t think “Seattle is on fire” either, my office is open, it’s a normal business day. Was the looting last night? Where was it?

    • UA-NYC Reply
      January 21, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      @Dee I’ve determined you’re a Russian bot…too stupid and repetitive to be a real poster

  18. emercycrite Reply
    January 22, 2021 at 4:14 am

    You are a talented photographer.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      January 23, 2021 at 12:15 pm

      Thank you.

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