Joe Biden Inauguration HIGHLIGHTS: Joe Biden Calls For Unity During His Speech At Primetime Special 'Celebrating America'

Joe Biden became the 46th US President after the 78-year-old Democrat leader took oath at the West Front of the Capitol - the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies. Kamala Harris, 56, made history by becoming the first female, first Black and first Indian American vice president of the United States. Biden's first address emphasised the aspect of bringing the country together which has been visibly divided over political allegiances and misinformation spread to stop the new administration from taking over. With the oath-taking ceremony concluded, the world can hope that the high-octane political drama over the US presidential election results is over.

Background

Washington: Democrat leader Joe Biden is all set to take oath as the new President of world's oldest democracy America in hours from now as the outgoing president Donald Trump on Wednesday finally exited the White House for the last time as the US president to board a flight to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, which will be his permanent home after he failed to win his re-election bid. ALSO READ | US Inauguration Day 2021 Livestream: Know India Timing To Watch Joe Biden & Kamala Harris Swearing-In Ceremony

Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris will take oath as the first woman Vice President on Wednesday, amidst heightened security concerns after a mob of pro-Trump extremists violently breached the Capitol two weeks ago. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office to 78-year-old Biden just after the clock strikes 12 (local time) at the West Front of the Capitol - the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies.

As per reports, the mega inauguration ceremony will be held under the unprecedented security umbrella of more than 25,000 National Guards, who have transformed the capital into a garrison city, mainly because of the threat of more violent protests by the supporters of Trump, who decided to skip Biden's swearing-in event. It is being said that Biden will take the oath on his 127-year-old family Bible, which will be held by his wife, Jill Biden.

Biden, who is set to become the oldest president in American history, will deliver his first presidential address to the country shortly after taking the oath. The historic speech, with the theme of unity and healing, has been prepared by his Indian-American speech writer Vinay Reddy.

Meanwhile, it is also worth noting that Kamala Harris, 56, will also make history by becoming the first female, first Black and first Indian American vice president of the United States. As per reports, Harris will be sworn in on two Bibles - one that belonged to a close family friend named Regina Shelton and another that belonged to Thurgood Marshall - the country's first African American Supreme Court justice.

ALSO READ | 'See You Soon': Donald Trump Bids Adieu As Joe Biden All Set To Takeover White House

The ceremony is likely to be attended by former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton are also said to grace the mega event. 

The scaled down inauguration is expected to begin around 11 a.m. with an invocation by Leo Jeremiah O'Donovan, a Jesuit priest who is a close friend of the Biden family. Andrea Hall, the first African American female firefighter to become captain of the Fire Rescue Department in South Fulton, Georgia, will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem and Amanda Gorman, who became the country's first Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, will read a poem she has written for the occasion called "The Hill We Climb." She would be followed by a performance by actress-singer Jennifer Lopez.

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08:34 AM (IST)  •  21 Jan 2021

Biden and first lady watch massive fireworks display from the White House

A display of fireworks over Washington, DC, closed out today's Inauguration Day events.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were on the Blue Room balcony above the White House South Lawn watching the fireworks.

After taking the oath of office at the US Capitol earlier today, Biden and his family walked onto the White House grounds for the first time since he became president, as did Kamala Harris — who made history when she was sworn in as the first female, the first Black and first South Asian vice president of the United States.

The new President made unity a focus of his remarks today, as he urged Americans to come together to overcome the many challenges the nation currently faces.

08:07 AM (IST)  •  21 Jan 2021

Joe Biden’s First Call with a Foreign Leader Will Be with Justin Trudeau

Biden will speak with Trudeau on Friday. “I expect they will certainly discuss the important relationship with Canada as well as his decision on the Keystone pipeline,” Psaki said. Trudeau today congratulated Biden on his inauguration but also issued a statement saying “we are disappointed” in the US president’s decision to cancel the permit for the Keystone XL, the 1,200-mile pipeline meant to transport crude oil from Canada to Nebraska.

07:50 AM (IST)  •  21 Jan 2021

Biden at the Lincoln Memorial: "I have never been more optimistic about America than I am this very day"

Joe Biden struck a note in his address to the United States at the "Celebrating America" concert in the Lincoln Memorial saying he believed the best for the nation was yet to come.

After listing difficulties faced by the US including the pandemic, an economic crisis, racial injustice, the climate crisis, and internal threats to the country's democracy, Biden asked rhetorically if Americans were up for the challenge. 

07:46 AM (IST)  •  21 Jan 2021

Biden says unity "requires us to come together in common love that defines us as Americans"

President Joe Biden reiterated his call for unity today during his speech at the primetime inauguration special “Celebrating America."

"It is humbling to stand here in this place in front of these sacred words. Humbling out of respect to President Lincoln and the office we now share and is humbling because of you, the American people. As I said earlier today, we have learned again that democracy is precious and because of you democracy has prevailed," Biden said in remarks at the Lincoln Memorial today.

07:16 AM (IST)  •  21 Jan 2021

Inauguration Day is about "witnessing the permanence of American ideal," Tom Hanks

According to CNN, Actor Tom Hanks opened the primetime inauguration special “Celebrating America" with words of hope for a new day in the US following the ascendance of President Joe Biden.

Hanks said, "To some, a presidential inauguration is a tradition, an act that marks the commitment of a new four-year term. Yet, in truth, Inauguration Day is more than the swearing-in of the next national leaders. This day is about witnessing the permanence of our American ideal."