Biden takes command as president: ‘Democracy prevailed’

WASHINGTON – Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that “democracy prevailed” and calling on American resilience and unity to face the historic confluence of crises in the deeply divided nation.

Biden took an oath at a United States Capitol that had been hit by an insurrectionary siege just two weeks earlier. On a cold Washington morning dotted with snow, the four-year ceremony took place within a circle of security forces resembling a war zone and without crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, Biden contemplated more than 200,000 American flags planted on the National Mall to symbolize those who were unable to attend in person.

“The people’s will has been heard, and the people’s will has been fulfilled. We learn again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed, ”said Biden. “This is America’s day. This is the day of democracy. A day in history and hope, of renewal and determination. “

Biden never mentioned his predecessor, who defied tradition and left the city before the ceremony, but his speech was an implicit rebuke to Donald Trump. The new president denounced “lies to have power and profit” and was straightforward about the challenges to come.

At the center of them: the growing virus that claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States, as well as economic tensions and a national race count.

“We have a lot to do this winter of significant dangers and possibilities. A lot to repair, a lot to restore, a lot to heal, a lot to build and a lot to gain, ”said Biden. “Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the one we are in now.”

Biden was eager to grow earlier, with the first 100 ambitious days, including an effort to accelerate the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to anxious Americans and pass on a $ 1.9 trillion economic aid package. On the first day, he planned a series of executive actions to reverse the Trump administration’s initiatives and also planned to send an immigration proposal to the Capitol that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living illegally in the country.

The absence of Biden’s predecessor at the inaugural ceremony underscored the national split to be resolved.

But a bipartisan trio of former presidents – Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama – were there to witness the ceremonial transfer of power. Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, was at his Florida resort when the oath took place.

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, bet his candidacy less on any distinct political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. Four years after Trump’s “American Carnage” speech painted a bleak picture of national decay, Biden warned that the nation’s fabric of democracy was tearing, but expressed faith that could be repaired.

“I know that the forces that divide us are profound and real. But I also know that they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh and horrible reality that racism, nativism, fear and demonization have long separated us, ”said Biden. “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the way forward and we must face this moment as the United States of America.”

Taking the oath with his hand on a five-inch-thick Bible that has been in his family for 128 years, Biden took office with a source of empathy and determination born of personal tragedy, as well as deep experience gained in more than four decades in Washington. At 78, he is the oldest president in office.

More history was made at her side, when Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president. The former US senator from California is also the first black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and the highest-ranking woman to serve in the government.

The two took an oath during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels. Biden, like everyone else, wore a face mask, except to speak. And tens of thousands of National Guard soldiers were on the streets to provide security precisely two weeks after a violent crowd of Trump supporters, incited by the Republican president, invaded the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Biden’s victory.

“Here we are, a few days after a turbulent mob thought it could use violence to silence the will of the people,” said Biden. “To stop the work of our democracy. To get us out of this sacred ground. This did not happened. This is never going to happen. Not today, not tomorrow. Never. Never.”

The tense atmosphere evoked the possession of Abraham Lincoln in 1861, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or the possession of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945, when he opted for a small and safe ceremony at the White House in the month. end of World War II.

But Washington, almost deserted in the center and its federal areas, was quiet. And calm also prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across the country, after the FBI warned of the possibility of armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration.

The day began with a reach across the political corridor after four years of bitter party battles under Trump. At Biden’s invitation, congressional leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer at the socially distant service a few blocks from the White House.

Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris by Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latin member of the Federal Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, replacing Trump, sat nearby while Lady Gaga, holding a golden microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the US Marine Corps band.

When Pence, in a last act of the outgoing administration, left the Capitol, he entered through a door with cracked glass from the turmoil of two weeks ago. Later, Biden, Harris and their spouses were accompanied by former presidents to solemnly deposit a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Ceremony.

Biden is also expected to join the end of a reduced inaugural parade as he moves to the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this year’s parade would be a virtual event with presentations from all over the country.

In the evening, instead of the traditional balls that welcome a new president in Washington, Biden would attend a televised concert that also marked the return of list A celebrities to the orbit of the White House after avoiding Trump. Among the members of the program: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

This was not a grand opening for the crowds. Even so, Americans in the capital brought their hopes to the moment.

“I feel so hopeful, so thankful,” said Karen Jennings Crooms, a DC resident who hoped to take a look at the presidential party on Pennsylvania Avenue with her husband. “We are sad to be here, but hopeful that democracy will win. That’s what I’m focusing on. “

Trump was the first president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor. After a brief farewell celebration at nearby Andrews Joint Base, he boarded Air Force One for the last time as president.

“I will always fight for you. I’ll be watching. I will be listening and I will say that the future of this country has never been better ”, said Trump. He wished the new government good luck, but never mentioned Biden’s name.

Just as Trump disappeared at Air Force One’s door, Biden left Blair House, the traditional guest accommodation for waiting presidents, and boarded his train for the short trip to the church.

Trump adhered to a tradition and left a personal note for Biden in the Oval Office, according to the White House, which did not release its content. And Trump, in his farewell comments, hinted at a political comeback, saying “we’ll be back somehow.”

He will undoubtedly follow Biden’s early days in office.

Trump’s second impeachment trial could begin this week. This will test the Senate’s ability, now under Democratic control, to balance impeachment procedures with confirmation hearings and votes on Biden’s cabinet choices.

The White House, desolate in the last days of Trump, came back to life on Wednesday afternoon, with Biden employees moving and new COVID-19 security measures, like plastic shields on tables, installed.

Biden planned a 10-day executive order blitz on matters that do not require congressional approval – a mix of substantive and symbolic measures to unfold the Trump years. Among the planned measures: rescind travel restrictions for people from several predominantly Muslim countries; resume the Paris climate agreement; issue a mask mandate to those on federal properties and order agencies to find out how to bring children separated from their families after crossing the border.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY:

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States:

Kamala Harris took office as the 49th Vice President of the United States:

Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem at the opening ceremony:

J.Lo performs patriotic medley:

Garth Brooks sings “Amazing Grace”:

Amanda Gorman delivers a powerful poem, “The Hill We Climb”: