President Joe Biden (center), with Vice President Kamala Harris (right), as he signs three documents including an Inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations on Wednesday.Photo: JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Joe Bidenwassworn in as presidenton Wednesday shortly before noon and then kept on going.
“This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day,” Biden, 78, said, speaking to the nation for the first time as president and calling for the country to “start afresh.”
“America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge,” he continued later in his speech. “Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a case: a case of democracy. The will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.”
“Democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed,” he said.
Joe Biden (left) is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at his inauguration Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol.Alex Wong/Getty
Vice President Kamala Harris takes the oath of office.Rob Carr/Getty
After the inauguration ceremony concluded, Biden and his wife, new First LadyDr. Jill Biden, attended the the Capitol Rotundagift-giving ceremonywhere Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt presented a painting that Dr. Biden had chosen for the occasion.
“I like the rainbow, good things to follow,” Dr. Biden, 69,reportedly saidat the event.
Inauguration gift-giving ceremony.PBS News Hour/ youtube
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris.Joe Raedle/Getty
The inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.Joe Raedle/Getty
While at the Capitol, President Biden signed an inauguration declaration as well as documents that made his cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations official in the President’s Room at the Capitol.
At Arlington, Biden and Harris stood at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider along with former PresidentsBarack Obama,George W. Bush,Bill Clintonand former First LadiesMichelle Obama,Laura BushandHillary Clinton.
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris.Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Ninety-three-year-oldCharlie Brotman, who began announcing inaugural parades in 1949 with President Harry Truman, voiced the in-person elements of Biden’s escort from the Capitol to the White House.
The escort in D.C. featured drum lines from the University of Delaware and Howard University, the president and vice president’s respective alma maters.
Finally, the president and Dr. Biden arrived at the White House with family members. Because of the ongoing pandemic, there were no spectators on the National Mall, which has instead been decorated with thousands of flags to represent those who could not attend.
President Joe Biden greets Al Roker during the parade.Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty
President Joe Biden walks down Pennsylvania Avenue with his family to the White House.getty images
As other presidents have done before him on day one of their administrations, Biden wasted no time getting to his work: He signed several executive orders Wednesday afternoon after the escort, with the goal of reversing many of predecessorDonald Trump’s actions,The New York Timesreported.
He also swore in some appointees.
President Joe Biden signed executive orders in the Oval Office soon after he was sworn in last month.Evan Vucci/AP/Shutterstock
Harris, meanwhile, returned to the Capitol to swear in new Sens.Jon Ossoff,Rev. Raphael Warnockand Alex Padilla, who is taking her seat in California.
Biden and Harris will both expected to appear later Wednesday night at theCelebrating Americaprimetime special featuring performances fromDemi Lovato,John Legend,Justin Timberlakeand several more stars.
source: people.com
