U.S. News

Joe Biden Inaugurated As The 46th President of the United States

Along with Biden, Kamala Harris Inaugurated As The First Female and Multiracial Vice President

Editor Tyler Bagent

On Wednesday, January 20th, 2021, Joseph R. Biden Jr. was officially inaugurated as President of the United States, bringing an end to the Trump Presidency and ushering in a new administration. Along with President Biden, Kamala D. Harris was inaugurated as the Vice President of the United States, making her the first woman and multiracial person ever to hold the office of Vice President.

Biden was sworn in on the West Front of the Capitol, in a ceremony much different than previous ones due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. All participants wore masks, and seating was socially distant. Near where he was sworn in sat former Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in addition to members of the Biden family and Harris family. Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem, and Jennifer Lopez also performed. Garth Brooks sang “Amazing Grace,” and Amanda Gorman read her poem “The Hill We Climb.” After being sworn in, Biden gave his inaugural address, highlighting the need for the nation to unite following the events of the past year.

Following the inaugural ceremonies and pass and review, Biden, Harris, and the former Presidents and First Ladies went to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Following this, they participated in the Inaugural Parade and then headed to the White House. That night, they participated in a ‘Celebrating America’ event, which was hosted by Tom Hanks and saw artists like the Foo Fighters, Jon Bon Jovi, and Yo-Yo-Ma perform.

President Biden’s first act in office was to sign a set of executive orders, including ones that had the United States re-enter the Paris Climate Accord, halted the US’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, cancelled the Keystone XL Pipeline, abolished Trump’s 1776 Commission, and required masks to be worn on federal government property. He also signed orders that requires non-citizens to be included in the Census and apportionment of congressional representatives, launched the “100 Day Masking Challenge,” reversed the Trump Administration’s Muslim Ban, halted the Border Wall, directed FEMA to launch community vaccination centers, directed the Departments of HHS and Education to provide resources for school re-openings, and prevented workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Vice President Harris’ first act in office was to swear-in three new Democratic Senators, Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). The swearings-in of these Senators brought the number of Democratic Senators up to 50, meaning the Democrats have taken the US Senate with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Harris. This makes the passing of President Biden’s agenda easier, as the Democrats now control the schedule of the Senate and which bills make it to votes. This also means that the Democrats will control the schedule for the upcoming impeachment trial of former President Trump, who is facing one Article of Impeachment for Incitement of Insurrection.

The Democrats taking the Senate also brings good news to President Biden’s cabinet nominees, as the Democrats now have the votes to confirm all of them. So far, the Senate has confirmed Biden’s DNI Nominee Avril Haine, Biden’s Secretary of Defense Nominee Lloyd Austin, and Biden’s Secretary of the Treasury Nominee Janet Yellen.

So far, the Biden Administration is much returning to the precedent of Administrations before the Trump Administration. Not only has the Administration provided detailed schedules, Press Secretary Jen Psaki has been giving daily press briefings. Regardless of what happens over the next few months, the Biden Administration is setting up to be quite different from its predecessor. It remains to be seen how President Biden will handle the many crises our country faces, but it is certain that it will be a much different next four years than the last four.