Biden placed his hand on a family Bible that has been passed down for 128 years and recited the 35-word oath of office, pledging to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.” Chief Justice John Roberts oversaw the ceremony, which concluded at 11:49 a.m., just 11 minutes before the transfer of presidential authority. Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn in shortly after by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, using a Bible that once belonged to Thurgood Marshall. Harris made history as the highest-ranking woman in US history, as well as the first Black American and first person of South Asian descent to hold the office. In his Inaugural Address, Biden affirmed that “democracy has prevailed” despite challenges from former President Donald Trump. Biden called for unity among Americans to address issues such as the coronavirus pandemic, economic difficulties, and racism. Biden emphasized the need to end the division in the country, urging people to open their hearts, show tolerance and humility, and try to understand each other's perspectives. He spoke about the importance of unity and expressed confidence that Americans can overcome polarization by coming together and finding common ground. Unity is essential for peace, progress, and a stable nation. The recent inauguration marked the end of a tumultuous four-year presidency, with the former president defying tradition by leaving early. President Joe Biden took his oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., completing the process just 11 minutes before the transfer of presidential authority. Trump flew to Florida to reside at his Mar-a-Lago estate, while the Senate prepares to begin his impeachment trial for inciting the Capitol attack. The presence of the new president and vice president at the Capitol, recently overrun by Trump supporters, highlighted the surreal nature of the day. In contrast to typical inaugural events filled with happiness and a sense of new beginnings, the 59th Inauguration Day in the United States highlighted the country's challenges. Amid concerns about potential violence, Washington was heavily guarded with 25,000 National Guard troops and thousands of police officers. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Americans were advised to stay away, resulting in a new president addressing a nearly empty National Mall adorned with flags symbolizing the absent crowd. Reuters reported that many traditional inaugural events were canceled due to the pandemic, such as 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, he will be joined by former Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. The first and second couples will then participate in a televised evening program hosted by actor Tom Hanks. Biden's determination to quickly undo the Trump administration's policies was evident in his plan to sign 17 executive orders, memorandums, and proclamations in the late afternoon. This marked a significant departure from his predecessor's agenda and included actions such as implementing a national mask mandate for federal workers, rejoining the Paris climate accord, and lifting the travel ban on certain Muslim-majority countries. On his first day in office, President Biden made a rare move to undo many of the policies put in place by his predecessor, signaling a clear break from Trump. Some of these actions were more symbolic than significant, and real change will need to come through legislation. Biden will be introducing an immigration reform plan on Wednesday that includes a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented individuals, a proposal that will need to be approved by Congress in what is expected to be a heated debate. Biden declared, "Democracy has prevailed" in his Inaugural Address. "Democracy has triumphed." President Joe Biden's Inaugural Address can be viewed at https://t.co/EPzTya587f pic.twitter.com/BotK2BwfBN. Capturing the focus in Congress will be difficult, as Trump's trial is expected to dominate the Senate for an extended period. Currently, it seems unlikely that any of Biden's Cabinet nominees will be confirmed on Inauguration Day, a departure from tradition. Trump had two Cabinet secretaries confirmed on his first day in office, while Obama and Bush each had seven. With Harris taking office, the Senate, which was evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, now shifts to the Democrats due to her tiebreaking vote as the chamber's president. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York is now the Democratic majority leader and aims to have two parallel tracks for considering nominations and legislation while also conducting the Trump trial. Biden wanted his Inaugural Address to have a different tone from his predecessor, focusing on conciliation rather than provocation. He started working on the speech with his adviser, Mike Donilon, before Thanksgiving, and also received input from historian Jon Meacham and speechwriter Vinay Reddy, as well as his sister, Valerie Biden Owens. Flags symbolizing individuals who could not be present at Joe Biden's presidential inauguration were displayed on the National Mall in Washington on January 20, 2021. Despite Biden's call for unity in his speech, he also addressed issues of racism following the George Floyd killing and the Capitol siege. Without directly mentioning Trump, Biden emphasized the importance of truth and the consequences of lies, especially after a presidency marked by numerous false or misleading statements. In terms of age, gender, and race, Biden represents a stark contrast to his predecessor. Biden, a seasoned senator and former vice president with deep roots in Washington, values his experience of working across party lines and aims to build a partnership with Senator Mitch McConnell and other Republicans. Known for his talkative nature, friendly demeanor, occasional overly familiar gestures, and tendency for verbal slip-ups, Biden practices a politics of empathy similar to Clinton and a relationship-focused 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 anymore, leading to constant scrutiny from both supporters and critics for any signs of decline. After overcoming doubts and obstacles, Biden achieved his lifelong goal of becoming president, decades after starting his first presidential campaign. While he holds strong center-left beliefs, Biden is not driven by ideology and is willing to adapt to the shifting political landscape. The more progressive faction of his party is still doubtful, and he may struggle to maintain his electoral coalition, which was united mainly by their shared dislike for Trump. Biden takes office with strong public support, as 57% of Americans view him favorably and 68% approve of his transition efforts, both higher than Trump's ratings. However, most of the public feels the country is heading in the wrong direction, and a significant portion of the population doubts the legitimacy of Biden's election win due to Trump's unfounded claims of fraud. Biden and Harris introduce new diversity to the highest levels of government. Biden is just the second Catholic president, following John F. Kennedy, while Harris made history by breaking gender and racial barriers as the vice president. His diverse Cabinet includes a record number of women and people of color, as well as the first openly gay person to lead a Cabinet department. During the inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021, a member of the National Guard recorded the scene at the US Capitol. Biden started his public day at 8:50 a.m. with a service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, accompanied by his wife, Jill Biden, Harris, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, as well as congressional leaders like McConnell. Biden had spent the previous night at Blair House, the presidential guest quarters. During the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, a National Guard member used his smartphone to capture the scene at the US Capitol. This marked a departure from tradition, as new presidents typically attend a service at St. John's Church before taking the oath, which is located across Lafayette Square from the White House. However, St. Matthew's Church also has its own presidential significance, as it was the location of Kennedy's funeral. The swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol was attended by three former presidents and their wives - Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama - as well as former Vice President Dan Quayle. Alongside Justices Roberts and Sotomayor, four other Supreme Court Justices were in attendance: Justice Elena Kagan and Trump's appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were warmly welcomed at the Capitol for their respectful attendance at the transition of power ceremony, despite Trump's lack of acknowledgment. This was Pence's first time back since he had to quickly leave the Senate chamber to avoid the pro-Trump mob. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks performed at the ceremony, with other stars like Kerry Washington, Bruce Springsteen, and Demi Lovato set to perform later in the evening at the event called "Celebrating America." The celebrity performances will be interspersed with demonstrations of the new administration getting to work. Biden will 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 have her first daily briefing, providing reporters with the opportunity to question the White House, which had been scarce under Trump. The Bidens will spend their first night in the White House, marking the end of a journey that began officially in 1987 and earlier unofficially. These were not the circumstances Biden may have expected when he started on this path, but history always has its surprises.