Photo taken on Jan. 19, 2021 shows a view of the National Mall ahead of the 59th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C, the United States. President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration will be held on Wednesday. /Xinhua
Former U.S. presidents attending president-elect Joe Biden's swearing in ceremony have arrived at the U.S. Capitol.
George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Biden's swearing-in ceremony.
Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.
The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend Biden's inauguration. Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.
Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trump's inaugural in 2017.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump departed Washington earlier Wednesday, skipping the Biden inaugural festivities and heading straight to their home in Florida.
Trump is the first president since Andrew Johnson not to attend the inauguration of his successor.