Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. defended his decision to go to Washington, with the city allegedly paying some of the costs, as commissioners plan a hearing on the matter.

Brigitt Smith, chair of the Marion County Republican Party, expressed her excitement. “I mean it’s like redemption and I can’t even put it into words. We’re just ecstatic,” she said. “It’s so exciting he’s taking so many Floridians in his cabinet. It goes to show we have it right in Florida. We are so proud to be Floridians.”

“Florida is really a beacon of freedom for the country, and we are looking forward to bringing some of that freedom to Washington, D.C.,” said Orange County Republican Chair Erin Huntley.

The U.S. Capitol will be on lockdown during inauguration day.

President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. We saw many recognizable faces Wednesday at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but there were many people -- some quite notable -- who were not in attendance. President Donald Trump: He announced on Twitter ahead of the inauguration that he would not be attending, and he stuck to his word. He’s the first outgoing president who chose not to attend the ceremony since President Andrew Johnson’s refusal in 1869. Sen. Marco Rubio: Rubio conveyed he would be hard at work instead.

The inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)Things have changed quite a bit since the first presidential inauguration in 1789. Illustration of American general and politician George Washington (1732 - 1799) receiving the news of his election as the first American president, 1789. While emphasizing the public good, Washington addressed the need for a strong Constitution and Bill of Rights. He also said he would be declining pay beyond what the public good thought was required.

President-elect Joe Biden and Jill listen during a COVID-19 memorial, with lights placed around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. ___HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN’S INAUGURATION:President-elect Joe Biden appeared at a memorial for COVID-19 victims at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday evening. A person familiar with Pence’s schedule cited “logistical challenges” in getting from the air base to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremonies on Wednesday. The information was passed from the National Guard Bureau to the D.C. National Guard. ___10:45 a.m.Three new Democratic senators are set to be sworn into office after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Wednesday.

A stand-in for President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on the podium, as a stand-in for Jill Biden looks on, during a rehearsal for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. Rehearsal resumed not long afterward, accompanied by frequent passes by a helicopter patrolling the skies over the Capitol. Law enforcement officials said there was no threat to the public and the fire was not believed to be a threat to the inauguration. Still, the Secret Service issued a bulletin over the weekend about what it sees as an “uptick” in National Guard troops posting pictures and details of their operations online. The Associated Press obtained the “all concerned” message sent to all the National Guard troops coming to Washington.