Joe Biden set to become the 46th U.S. president

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as president and vice-president at noon Wednesday.

This year’s Inauguration Day will look unlike anything the nation has seen before.

President Donald Trump has opted not to attend the inauguration, becoming the first president to do so since Andrew Johnson in 1869.

The tradition of a president attending his successor’s inauguration began with George Washington and projects to the country and the world that America is transitioning to new leadership freely and in peace.

Biden and Harris are urging supporters to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Mall is closed and just a fraction of the tickets usually handed out for an inauguration will be distributed.

About 200,000 small U.S. state and territorial flags have been installed on the National Mall, representing those who can’t attend.

A few lawmakers from both parties have indicated that they will not be attending out of safety concerns following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

In his first hours as president, Biden will sign a series of executive actions that reverse his  predecessor’s orders on immigration, climate change and handling of the pandemic.

The 15 executive actions attempt to essentially rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed.