Biden, 78, was sworn in as the oldest US president in history with his hand on a family heirloom Bible, promising to uphold the Constitution. The inauguration ceremony in Washington was subdued due to COVID-19 and security concerns following the Capitol attack. Trump, breaking tradition, did not meet with Biden or attend the inauguration, instead focusing on his administration's achievements and hinting at a future return to politics. He left for his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. Top Republicans, such as Vice President Mike Pence and the party's congressional leaders, were present at Biden's inauguration, along with former US Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate and daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, made history by becoming the first Black person, first woman, and first Asian American to serve as vice president. She was sworn in by US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the court. Using two Bibles, including one owned by Thurgood Marshall, the first Black US Supreme Court Justice, Harris made history. Biden is taking office during a time of national unease, with the country facing multiple crises such as the pandemic, economic downturn, climate change, and racial inequality. He has promised immediate action, including signing a series of executive orders on his first day in office. The event on Wednesday took place in front of a heavily guarded US Capitol, where a group of Trump supporters broke into the building two weeks earlier, incited by his baseless claims of election fraud. The violent incident led to Trump being impeached by the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives for a second time. Following the attack, thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to the city, resulting in five deaths and lawmakers having to hide briefly. Instead of supporters, the National Mall was filled with flags and pillars of light symbolizing people from all US states and territories. Biden, who has promised to heal the country, will emphasize the importance of American unity in his inaugural speech. His inauguration marks the peak of a fifty-year career in public service, which included over thirty years in the US Senate and two terms as vice president under former President Barack Obama. Despite his extensive experience, he is now faced with challenges that would test even the most seasoned politician. The United States reached grim milestones on Trump's last day in office, with 400,000 deaths and 24 million infections due to the pandemic - the highest numbers in any country. Many Americans are unemployed as a result of pandemic-related closures and limitations. Biden has promised to utilize the full power of the federal government to address the crisis. His main focus is on a $1.9 trillion proposal that would improve unemployment benefits and give direct cash payments to households. However, getting this plan approved will be challenging due to the divided Congress, with Democrats holding slim majorities in both the House and Senate. Vice President Harris was set to swear in three new Democratic senators on Wednesday, creating a 50-50 split in the Senate with herself as the tie-breaking vote. Biden is expected to quickly move forward from the Trump administration, with advisers stating that he will sign 15 executive actions on Wednesday addressing issues such as the pandemic, the economy, and climate change. These orders will include requiring masks on federal property, rejoining the Paris climate accord, and ending Trump's travel ban on certain Muslim-majority countries. Even though President Biden has a busy agenda for his first 100 days, the Senate may be preoccupied with Trump's upcoming impeachment trial, which will proceed despite him no longer being in office. This trial could be an early test of Biden's goal to promote bipartisanship in Washington. In his last hours in office, Trump granted over 140 pardons and commutations, including one for his former adviser Steve Bannon, who is facing charges related to fundraising for a border wall. Despite speculation, Trump did not pardon himself or his family members preemptively.