While the National Guard continues to deploy in the US capital, Washington, to secure the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden tomorrow, Wednesday, Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that the Pentagon (Ministry of Defense) ordered the deployment of about 2,750 soldiers from the regular armed forces to provide support.

Al-Jazeera correspondent said that these regular soldiers will be deployed for the tasks of supporting the presidential inauguration, and precautionary measures related to dealing with explosives and nuclear and chemical materials.

Meanwhile, the number of National Guard personnel who have completed their deployment in Washington to secure the inauguration ceremony has reached more than 21,500, out of a total of 25,000 scheduled to be deployed for this mission.

For his part, Acting US Defense Secretary Christopher Miller confirmed that a security check would be conducted on the National Guard members deployed in Washington to secure the inauguration ceremony.

Miller said - in a statement - that there is no intelligence at the department indicating an internal threat, but the Pentagon is sparing no effort in securing the capital, according to the statement.

He added that the FBI is providing assistance to the Ministry to accomplish this mission.

Intense security deployment

21 states have announced the deployment of National Guard forces in anticipation of any potential threat this week, and a National Guard statement stated that the number of its members currently deployed in the US states has reached more than 63,000, in order to provide support to the police and secret service.

The measures taken in Washington, DC, to secure Biden's inauguration are described as unprecedented, as the National Mall, where thousands of Americans usually flock to the ceremony, was closed, and citizens were prevented from approaching it even days before the ceremony.

The Secret Service, which is tasked with protecting the president, has identified a vast "red zone", stretching from Capitol Hill - which is within its scope of Congress headquarters - all the way to the White House.

Washington is still in shock since supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed Congress headquarters on January 6, in an attempt to prevent approval of the election results that ended in Biden's victory.

Trump had called on his supporters to go to the Capitol Building, so the House of Representatives charged him with "inciting rebellion," and his trial in the Senate may begin shortly after Biden's inauguration.

An exceptional setup

The inauguration ceremony will be exceptional for several reasons, as the number of invitees is limited and the ceremony is closed to the general public due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than 190,000 flags have been raised at the National Mall, representing a crowd that will not be present.

Trump will also not attend the inauguration ceremony, but will leave the White House early Wednesday for his residence in Maralago, Florida, to be the first president to refuse to attend the inauguration of his successor since Andrew Johnson in 1869.

At the end of his term, Trump's popularity plummeted to the lowest level since the beginning of his term, with only 34% of Americans expressing their satisfaction with his performance, according to a Gallup poll, whose results were published Monday.

But before leaving the White House, the Republican billionaire is preparing to pardon a long list of names that includes his associates and close associates.