Two weeks after a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol, thousands of armed troops surrounded the building as Joe Biden, at 78 years old, was sworn in as the oldest U.S. president in history by Chief Justice John Roberts. In his inauguration speech, Biden emphasized the need for unity to overcome challenges and restore the soul of America, urging an end to the divisive conflicts between red and blue, rural and urban, conservative and liberal. He called for opening our souls instead of hardening our hearts to achieve this goal. The inauguration ceremony was smaller and lacked its usual festive atmosphere, with the National Mall filled with U.S. flags instead of supporters. Biden spoke at the Capitol, where violence had recently occurred, and portrayed his inauguration as a testament to the resilience of American democracy. The chaos led to Trump's second impeachment for incitement, after he falsely claimed election fraud and urged his followers to march on the Capitol. Biden condemned the violence and emphasized the importance of upholding democracy. Jennifer Lopez performed patriotic songs at President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, while Kamala Harris made history as the first Black person, first woman, and first Asian American to serve as vice president. Harris was sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court's first Latina member. Trump broke tradition by not meeting with Biden or attending his inauguration, which is typically seen as a peaceful transfer of power. Despite never conceding the election, Trump did not mention Biden by name in his final remarks as president. He then left for his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. Top Republicans and former presidents attended Biden's inauguration, as he takes office during a time of national unease with multiple crises to address. He has pledged to take immediate action, such as issuing a series of executive orders on his first day in office. Following a contentious campaign with Trump's unfounded claims of election fraud, Biden adopted a conciliatory tone rarely seen from his predecessor, urging Americans who did not support him to give him a chance. In breaking news, Kamala Harris made history as the first woman and the first woman of color to be sworn in as vice president of the United States. Biden stated, "I pledge this to you: I will be a president for all Americans." "I assure you that I will fight just as vigorously for those who did not support me as I will for those who did," Biden stated. He also expressed his commitment to repairing strained relationships with international allies, leading with strength and trust, and promoting peace, progress, and security. Despite not specifically mentioning ongoing conflicts with North Korea, Iran, and China, Biden's inauguration marks the culmination of a long career in public service, including time in the Senate and as vice president under Obama. However, he acknowledges the significant challenges ahead. On Trump's last day in office, the United States marked 400,000 deaths and 24 million infections from the pandemic, the highest in any country. Millions of Americans are unemployed due to pandemic-related shutdowns. Biden plans to use the full force of the federal government to address the crisis, including a $1.9 trillion proposal to increase jobless benefits and provide direct payments to households. Lady Gaga sang the national anthem at Biden's inauguration. However, this plan must be approved by a divided Congress where Democrats have slim majorities. Harris was set to swear in three new Democratic senators on Wednesday, resulting in a 50-50 split in the chamber with herself as the tie-breaking vote. Biden is expected to quickly move on from the Trump era by signing 15 executive actions on various issues on Wednesday, such as the pandemic, economy, and climate change. These actions will include requiring masks on federal property, rejoining the Paris climate accord, and ending Trump's travel ban on certain Muslim-majority countries. Despite Biden's ambitious plans for his first 100 days, the Senate may be focused on Trump's upcoming impeachment trial, which will proceed even though he is no longer in office. This trial could test Biden's commitment to promoting bipartisanship in Washington. In his last moments in office, Trump granted over 140 pardons and commutations, including one for his ex-political adviser Steve Bannon, who is facing charges for allegedly scamming Trump supporters in a fundraising campaign for a border wall. Despite speculation, Trump did not grant pardons to himself or his family members.