Inauguration Day 2021 – Biden gets to work at White House after urging unity and ‘end to uncivil war’
JOE Biden got straight to work at the White House after using his inaugural address to call for unity among Americans and an end to the country’s “uncivil war”.
After being sworn in outside the Capitol on Wednesday, the new president said his “whole soul” was committed to “bringing America together” after months of political unrest.
Read our Inauguration Day 2021 live blog for the very latest news and updates on Joe Biden’s swearing-in and Donald Trump’s exit…
Yesterday evening, Biden signed executive orders addressing a number of different issues, from Covid-19 to climate change, as he began to roll back Donald Trump’s policies.
Seven hours into his presidency, his press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Biden was ready “roll up his sleeves and get going” after confirming his executive order blitz.
Earlier in the day, he gave a powerful address, saying: “Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged, or found a time more difficult, than the time we’re in now.
“A once-in-a-century virus silently stalks the country.
“A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.
“A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that couldn’t be any more desperate or any more clear.
“And now, the rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.
“To overcome these challenges requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity.
“Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together.
“We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.”
As he signed the documents, Biden also revealed that his predecessor – who skipped his inauguration – wrote him a “very generous letter” but that he “won’t talk about it until I talk to him.”
On Wednesday night, A-list stars performed during a Celebrating America special with a huge display of fireworks.
The singers included John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Demi Lovato, and the event was hosted by actor Tom Hanks.
The celebration came after a tumultuous transition period in which Trump repeatedly made unfounded claims of voter fraud, culminating in the storming of the Capitol on January 6.
During his speech this morning, Biden went on to say that “history, faith, and reason show the way of unity”.
“We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors,” he said.
“We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperatures.
“For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos.”
Following the speech, a post from the official presidential account read: “There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face.
“That’s why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.”
A video message posted to the White House’s official twitter account also urged Americans to see that “we’ve been connected all along”.
“Connected by a love for this country, by a continuing drive to improve it, by the shared dignity, the quiet respect of an honest day’s work.”
It went on to pledge that the new administration would get the coronavirus pandemic under control, address climate change, tackle racial injustice, and rebuild the middle class.
Pictures later showed Biden completing the signing ceremony for his cabinet and sub-cabinet nominations.
At a ceremony at the Capitol, he was then presented with a commemorative vase engraved at its base with an image of the White House, while Harris was given one with an image of the Capitol.
Each was also gifted one of the flags that were flying outside the Capitol as they were sworn in, Biden by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Harris by former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.
Pelosi said: “May [the flag] be a symbol of the hope, the healing, and all of the enthusiasm that you have for our country.”
“We’re gonna get ready to play ball. We’re ready to go,” she added.
Both Biden and Harris then made their way to the steps of the Capitol for the traditional parade and inspection of the military earlier today.
They were then taken by presidential motorcade to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
The President and Vice President were joined by the Obamas, Bushes and Clintons.
Biden offered a salute as he paid his respects – with the only living presidents absent from the ceremony being the elderly Jimmy Carter and Trump.
Pictures also showed a lone officer kneeling at the Delaware grave of Joe Biden’s son Beau, who died with glioblastoma in 2015.
The officer is thought to have been posted to the grave to guard against vandalism.
Next up was the virtual Parade Across America, which saw people taking part in all 56 US states and territories.
In Washington, DC, military bands marched through the streets to lead Biden’s motorcade.
The president was then seen exiting the motorcade and walking down the parade route towards the White House with his family.
Meanwhile, movers had been preparing and cleaning the White House ahead of the Bidens’ arrival.
At the swearing-in earlier in the day, Lady Gaga took to the platform to sing the Star Spangled Banner to a crowd noticeably smaller than previous inaugurations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
She wore a large golden broach in the shape of a dove carrying an olive branch, and later tweeted: “May we all make peace with each other.”
The ceremony also saw performances from Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks.
A tweet from Biden’s twitter account ahead of the event read: “It’s a new day in America.”
He also posted a short clip showing wife Dr Jill Biden reaching to grab his hand as the pair waited in a holding area.
A caption read: “I love you, Jilly, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you with me on the journey ahead.”
Pictures showed former president Barack Obama, 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, and Biden’s 2020 rival Bernie Sanders – whose mittens went viral – at the Capitol for the event.
Ahead of the inauguration, Biden attended a service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington DC along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
Speaking on CNN this morning, incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the invitations to bipartisan leaders were intended to “be used as an example” of the path forward for the country.
Communications director Kate Bedingfield told ABC that the inaugural address was intended to “speak to the moment that we are in” but to also “lay out a vision for the future”.
Ahead of the ceremony, former president Barack Obama, for whom Biden served as vice president, tweeted a picture of the two of them in the White House.
“Congratulations to my friend, President @JoeBiden! This is your time,” he wrote.
This year’s inauguration was vastly different to previous ones because of the strict restrictions to stop the spread of Covid-19 and increased security after a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol.
The seige on January 6 left five people dead – including a police officer.
Around 25,000 National Guard troops were deployed across Washington, DC after authorities warned some extremist Trump supporters were calling for more violence.
The nation’s capital was essentially on lockdown as tanks and concrete barriers blocked the streets, the National Mall was closed, fencing was on the perimeter of the Capitol and checkpoints sat at intersections.
Commercial flights into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were also blocked until after Biden took the oath of office, CNN reports.
Donald Trump did not attend Biden’s inauguration and is the first president since Andrew Johnson in 1869 to opt out.
The tradition of attending the successor’s inauguration goes back to the country’s first president George Washington to show how America can transition leadership peacefully.
Trump instead spoke on Wednesday morning at a final rally of his supports at Andrews Air Force base in Maryland.
“We’ve accomplished so much together,” he said.
“I will always fight for you, I will be watching. Goodbye, we love you, we will be back in some form.”
A number of senior Republicans, including outgoing vice president Mike Pence and Senator Ted Cruz, one of Trumps most vocal supporters, did attend the inauguration.
Biden and Harris urged supporters to stay home because of the pandemic, although a small number of tickets were distributed.
About 200,000 small US state and terroritial flags were planted on the National Mall to represent those who could not attend.
Following Lady Gaga’s performance, Jennifer Lopez took to the platform to perform This Land Is Your Land.
The Pledge of Allegience was then led by Andrea Hall, the first African American female firefighter to become captian of her unit in Fulton, Georgia.
The event also saw Amanda Gorman, the first-ever Youth Laureate, read a poem.
Gorman reportedly gained more than 90,000 followers on twitter following the appearance.
Country singer Garth Brooks also performed Amazing Grace, saying he was attending for “unity”.
Following the performance, President Obama could be heard shouting: “Amen!”
The final person to speak before the ceremony officially started was Rev. Silvester Beaman, who delivered a benediction.
At noon, Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Biden and his wife Jill, began the swearing-in ceremony.
Jill held the family’s 127-year-old bible while Biden placed his hand on it to take the oath.
Harris used two bibles – one from a friend Regina Sheltong and the personal one belonging to the first black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
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A picture tweeted by Clinton this morning showed Harris ahead of the event playing with with her grand-nieces.
Biden then delivered his address for about 30 minutes.
The usual traditions of luncheons and celebrations did not happen this year.
Image Source:*the-sun.com
Source:the-sun.com
