Biden took the oath of office with his hand on a family Bible, swearing to protect the Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the ceremony, completing the process before the presidency officially changed hands. Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, using a Bible once owned by Thurgood Marshall. Harris made history as the highest-ranking woman in US history and the first Black American and person of South Asian descent to hold the office. In his Inaugural Address, Biden stated that democracy had prevailed despite challenges from former President Donald Trump. He urged Americans to come together to address the coronavirus pandemic, economic issues, and racism. Biden emphasized the need to end the division in the country, highlighting the conflict between red and blue, rural and urban, conservative and liberal. He urged for unity, tolerance, and humility, emphasizing the importance of understanding each other's perspectives. Biden acknowledged that achieving unity may seem like a far-fetched idea but believed that Americans have overcome similar challenges in the past and can do so again. He called for a collective effort to come together, reduce hostility, and create a more harmonious environment. Without unity, there will be no peace, but rather bitterness and fury. Progress will be hindered by exhausting outrage, and chaos will reign instead of a unified nation. This current moment in history is filled with crisis and challenge, and the only way forward is through unity. The ceremony marking the end of the tumultuous and divisive Trump presidency took place on a chilly, breezy day with a touch of snowfall. Trump, true to form, departed Washington before the inauguration of his successor, refusing to accept his election defeat, while his vice president, Mike Pence, did attend the event. President Joe Biden took his oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., completing the process just 11 minutes before the presidency was officially handed over. Trump flew to Florida to reside at his Mar-a-Lago estate, but the Senate will soon begin his impeachment trial for inciting the Capitol attack. The inauguration of the new president and vice president at the same location where the violent mob had gathered just two weeks prior highlighted the surreal nature of the day. Contrary to typical inaugurations filled with happiness and hope for the future, the events on the nation's 59th Inauguration Day highlighted America's challenges. In the midst of concerns about potential violence, Washington has been heavily fortified with a large presence of National Guard troops and police officers, and a significant portion of downtown blocked off. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Americans were advised to stay away, resulting in a surreal scene of a new president delivering his address to a nearly empty National Mall adorned with flags instead of people. Reuters reported that due to the pandemic, many traditional inauguration activities were canceled, such as the usual lunch with congressional leaders, the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, and the evening balls. Instead, President Biden will review military units at the Capitol, be escorted to the White House by marching bands, and participate in a virtual "Parade Across America" with performances from all states and territories. To symbolize national unity, Biden will be joined by former presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton at Arlington National Cemetery. In place of formal dances, the new first and second couples will participate in a televised evening program hosted by Tom Hanks. If the grandeur and formality of the occasion were limited by the current challenges, President Biden's determination to swiftly undo the policies of the previous administration remained strong. He intended to sign a total of 17 executive orders, memorandums, and proclamations later that day, aiming to reverse many significant aspects of the previous administration's agenda. This marked a bold rejection of his predecessor and was a more extensive set of actions on Inauguration Day than seen in recent history. Among these actions were plans to implement a national mask mandate for federal workers and properties, extend eviction protections and student loan relief, rejoin the Paris climate accord, halt construction of the border wall, end the travel ban on certain Muslim-majority countries, protect young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and pause oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. On his first day in office, President Biden made a concerted effort to undo many of the policies put in place by his predecessor, Trump, in a clear attempt to show a new direction. While some of the executive orders were more symbolic than impactful, real change will ultimately depend on passing legislation. Biden is set to introduce an immigration reform bill on Wednesday that would offer a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, a move that will require approval from Congress and is expected to spark debate. "Democracy has prevailed." Check out President Joe Biden's Inaugural Address. "Democracy has triumphed." President Joe Biden's Inaugural Address can be viewed at https://t.co/EPzTya587f pic.twitter.com/BotK2BwfBN. Gaining attention in Congress will be difficult, as Trump's trial is expected to occupy the Senate for an extended period. Currently, it seems unlikely that any of Biden's Cabinet nominees will be confirmed on Inauguration Day, which deviates from tradition. Trump had two Cabinet secretaries approved on his first day in office, while Obama and Bush each had seven. Harris' inauguration has shifted the Senate to Democratic control, with an even split of 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans now leaning in favor of the Democrats due to her tiebreaking vote as president of the chamber. Sen. Chuck Schumer is now the Democratic majority leader and aims to have two separate tracks for considering nominations, legislation, and the Trump trial simultaneously. Biden worked on his Inaugural Address with the help of his adviser Mike Donilon, historian Jon Meacham, speechwriter Vinay Reddy, and sister Valerie Biden Owens, in an effort to set a different tone from his predecessor focused on unity rather than provocation. Biden began this process before Thanksgiving. Flags were displayed at the National Mall in Washington to represent those who could not attend Joe Biden's presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021. In his speech, Biden addressed the importance of unity, condemned racism following the George Floyd killing and Capitol siege, and emphasized the need for truth after years of false statements from the previous president. Biden's inauguration highlighted a stark contrast between himself and his predecessor in terms of age, gender, and race. Biden, a seasoned senator and former vice president who is well-connected in Washington, values his ability to work with politicians from both parties and is looking to collaborate with Sen. Mitch McConnell and other Republicans. Known for his talkative nature, warm smile, occasional overly familiar gestures, and tendency to make mistakes, Biden employs a politics of empathy similar to Clinton and a relationship-based approach like the first President George Bush. Despite being the oldest president in American history at 78, Biden's allies recognize that he may not be at his peak, prompting close scrutiny from both supporters and critics for any signs of decline. Despite overcoming doubts and obstacles, Biden's core beliefs lean towards the center-left, but he is flexible and willing to adapt to the political landscape. The more liberal faction of his party is still doubtful, and he may struggle to maintain his electoral coalition, which was mainly united in their dislike of Trump. Biden comes into power with strong public support. A majority of Americans have a positive view of him, with a higher approval rating than Trump had during his time in office. However, most people feel that the country is heading in the wrong direction and a significant portion do not believe Biden won the election fairly, likely influenced by Trump's unfounded claims. Biden and Harris bring a new level of diversity to the highest levels of government. Biden is only the second Catholic president after John F. Kennedy, while Harris made history by breaking multiple gender and racial barriers in winning the vice presidency. Biden's Cabinet has a record number of women and people of colour, as well as the first gay person to lead one of the statutory Cabinet departments. A member of the National Guard used his smartphone to record the scene at the US Capitol during Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021.

On the morning of his inauguration, Biden began his day at 8:50 a.m. by attending a service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle with his wife, Jill Biden, and Harris with her husband, Doug Emhoff. Congressional leaders, including McConnell, were also in attendance. Biden had spent the previous night at Blair House, the presidential guest quarters near the White House. A National Guard member used his smartphone to capture the scene at the US Capitol during President Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, 2021. This deviated from tradition, as most new presidents typically attend a worship service at St. John's Church before taking the oath. However, St. Matthew's Church also has a significant presidential history, hosting Kennedy's funeral. Among those present at the swearing-in ceremony were three former presidents and their spouses, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama, along with former Vice President Dan Quayle. In addition to Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Sotomayor, four other Supreme Court justices were in attendance: Justice Elena Kagan and Trump's three appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were warmly welcomed with bipartisan applause at the Capitol for their display of respect during the transition of power, despite Trump's snub. This marked Pence's first visit since being evacuated from the Senate chamber due to the pro-Trump mob's threats against him. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks performed at the ceremony, with Kerry Washington, Bruce Springsteen, Eva Longoria, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Demi Lovato scheduled to join Tom Hanks for the "Celebrating America" evening performance at 8:30 p.m. The celebrity celebration will be interspersed with demonstrations of governmental duties. Biden is scheduled to sign his orders and memorandums in the Oval Office at 5:15 p.m., followed by a virtual swearing-in of his staff half an hour later. At 7 p.m., Jen Psaki, the new White House press secretary, will hold her first daily briefing, allowing reporters to question the White House regularly again after a lack of opportunities under Trump. The Bidens will spend their first night in the White House, marking the end of a journey that officially began in 1987 and unofficially much earlier. These were not the circumstances the new president may have expected when he started on this path, but history always holds surprises. ©2021 The New York Times Company.