Washington (AFP)

Pop stars Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez will attend Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on January 20 in Washington, the Democrat's team announced Thursday, an event that will be held in a very special climate due to the Covid -19 and enhanced security after the violence at the Capitol.

Lady Gaga will sing the American national anthem, precisely on the steps of the Capitol, then Jennifer Lopez will perform a "musical performance", said the organizing committee of the event.

Both had supported Joe Biden during his campaign, and Lady Gaga, whom Joe Biden calls his "great friend", had already performed at his last big meeting.

When he was Barack Obama's vice president, they worked together on a campaign against sexual harassment.

On the theme of "United America", the inauguration ceremony of the Democrat will be unlike any other, the organizers like the mayor of the capital having called on the Americans not to move but to follow it virtually, from home. them.

The country is currently experiencing its worst daily death tolls from the coronavirus.

A "field of flags" will be installed on part of the "Mall", the immense esplanade where museums and official monuments in Washington stand, facing Congress.

They will represent "the American citizens" who could not make the trip, specified the team of Joe Biden.

After the assault on the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump on January 6 to protest the certification of the Democrat's victory, the inauguration ceremony will also be held in a climate of extreme tension.

Security has been tightened significantly in the entrenched city, and the Pentagon authorized the deployment of as many as 20,000 National Guard troops on D-Day.

After the ceremony, Joe Biden had already announced that he would go immediately to Arlington National Cemetery with three of his predecessors: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, to lay a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier and call for unity.

In the evening, American comedian Tom Hanks will present a special show, broadcast on all major American channels, with other musical guests, including Justin Timberlake.

In 2009, Aretha Franklin had sung during the first inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama, as well as Bruce Springsteen, U2, Shakira or Stevie Wonder.

Four years later for her re-election, Beyoncé sang the national anthem.

In 2017, Donald Trump had to be content with lesser-known artists, the man being little appreciated by the entertainment world.

The outgoing president has said he will not attend the ceremony on January 20.

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