On Wednesday, before the strike of noon, Kamala Harris took the Oath of the Office, becoming the first female and person of color in the nation’s history to hold a role as the vice president. Joe Biden followed shortly after Harris, and was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.
A long-held tradition of today’s inauguration was supposed to unfold in the presence of a predecessor and a ride with the previous president to Pennsylvania Avenue. When Donald Trump laid out his vision to “rebuild our country and restore its promise for all our people,” Obama watched from the sidelines. He sported a proud, congratulatory semblance.
Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama made an appearance at the ceremony as President Biden took his oath in Washington DC. Trump, however, was nowhere to be found in the Capitol upon reaching the end of his presidency.
He had already reached his home in Florida by then. He then, ultimately, became the 4th president to dodge their successor’s inauguration — even going far as to travelling all the way to Florida. In an excerpt released by the White House on Tuesday, he had bid a defiant farewell from the office.
“This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous,” he said.
“Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning.”
Despite the 45th US president’s empty seat today, the show carried on as per intended. A 78-year-old Biden finally became president after his third try.
Joined by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Joe Biden delivered powerful remarks on the essence of national unity and restoration. From the novel coronavirus that claimed over 400,000 lives to the devastating Capitol Hill insurrection a few weeks ago, he spoke about several struggles on this country’s front.
The main message essentially counted down to constructing a new dawn for this country, and as well a plea to seal the nation’s divide with unification. Biden pledged to become a president for all Americans, indiscriminate to the red Democratic and blue Republican factions.
“Within the guardrails of our republic it’s [democracy] perhaps this nation’s greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans,” Biden said in his address.
“And I promise you, I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did,” he continued.
