Biden placed his hand on a thick Bible that had been in his family for 128 years as he recited the oath of office, pledging to protect the Constitution in a ceremony led by Chief Justice John Roberts. The transfer of power was completed at 11:49 a.m., just 11 minutes before the official change of presidency. Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn in shortly after by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, using a Bible that belonged to Thurgood Marshall. Harris's inauguration marked her as the highest-ranking woman in US history, as well as the first Black American and person of South Asian descent to hold the position. In his Inaugural Address, Biden stated that democracy had prevailed despite challenges from former President Donald Trump, who had attempted to overturn the election results and incited a Capitol riot. He called for unity among Americans to address issues such as the coronavirus pandemic, economic challenges, and racism. "We need to put an end to this lack of civility that pits red against blue, rural against urban, and conservative against liberal," Biden stated in his 21-minute address, which mixed grand themes with down-to-earth touches. He emphasized the importance of opening our hearts, being more tolerant and humble, and trying to see things from the perspective of others, even if just for a moment, as his mom used to say. Biden stressed the importance of unity, acknowledging that it may seem like an unrealistic goal but pointing out that Americans have overcome divisions in the past and can do so again. He called for an end to the shouting and a decrease in the overall tension in the country. Unity is essential for peace, progress, and stability. The recent ceremony marked the end of Trump's presidency, which was marked by controversy and division. Trump, true to form, left Washington before his successor's inauguration, showing his refusal to accept defeat. President Joe Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. 11 minutes before the authority of the presidency formally changed hands. The Senate will soon open the former president's impeachment trial for inciting an insurrection. The presence of the new president and vice president at the Capitol, recently attacked by a pro-Trump mob, highlighted the surreal nature of the day. In contrast to typical inaugural celebrations filled with happiness and a sense of new beginnings, the events on the 59th Inauguration Day in the United States highlighted the country's challenges. Amid concerns of potential violence, Washington D.C. has been heavily fortified, with 25,000 National Guard troops and numerous police officers stationed throughout the city and a large portion of downtown closed off. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Americans were advised to stay home, resulting in a surreal scene of the new president addressing a sparsely populated National Mall adorned with flags instead of people. Reuters reported that many traditional inauguration activities were canceled due to the pandemic, such as a lunch with congressional leaders, a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, and 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" featuring performances from all states and territories. To emphasize national unity, Biden will be joined by former Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery. The new first and second couples will also take part in a televised evening program hosted by Tom Hanks. If the grandeur and formality of the occasion were limited by the difficulties of the day, President Biden's determination to quickly undo the policies of the Trump administration was not. He intended to sign a total of 17 executive orders, memorandums, and proclamations later in the day, all aimed at reversing key aspects of the previous administration's agenda. This marked a significant departure from his predecessor and represented a more extensive set of actions on Inauguration Day than seen in recent history. Some of the measures included implementing a national mask mandate for federal workers and property, extending protections for evictions and student loans, rejoining the Paris climate accord, halting construction of the border wall, lifting travel restrictions on certain Muslim-majority countries, strengthening protections for young immigrants, prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity within the federal government, and placing a temporary halt on oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on January 20, 2021. Rarely in history has a new president taken such swift action to undo the policies of his predecessor on his first day in office, but Biden aimed to show a clear departure from Trump. Some of the executive orders may have been more symbolic than impactful, and real change will still need to come from new legislation. Biden is set to present an immigration reform plan on Wednesday that includes a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, which will need approval from Congress in what is expected to be a heated debate. Biden stated, "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. The Senate may face challenges in confirming Biden's Cabinet choices due to Trump's trial potentially taking up considerable time. This contrasts with previous presidents, as Trump had two Cabinet secretaries confirmed on his Inauguration Day, while Obama and Bush had seven each. With Harris being inaugurated, the Senate, which was evenly split between 50 Democrats and 50 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 plans to have two separate tracks to consider both nominations and legislation while also conducting the Trump trial. Biden wanted his Inaugural Address to have a different tone from his predecessor, who focused on provocation rather than conciliation. Biden started working on his speech before Thanksgiving with the help of his longtime adviser, Mike Donilon, historian Jon Meacham, speechwriter Vinay Reddy, and his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, who has been a key advisor for him. Flags were displayed to symbolize individuals who could not be present at Joe Biden's presidential inauguration on the National Mall in Washington on January 20, 2021. Despite his call for unity, Biden used his speech to address racism following the George Floyd killing and the Capitol siege. Without mentioning Trump directly, he emphasized the importance of truth and the consequences of lies after four years of false statements. Biden's inauguration marked a stark contrast to the previous president in terms of age, gender, and race. Biden, a veteran senator and former vice president with deep ties to Washington, emphasizes his ability to work with both parties and is looking to build relationships with Republican leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell. Known for his talkative nature, warm smile, and occasional missteps, Biden follows a style of politics that combines empathy with personal connections. At 78, he is the oldest president in U.S. history, leading some to question his ability to lead effectively. Despite this, Biden's determination and flexibility have helped him overcome obstacles and secure the presidency after decades of political experience. While he holds strong center-left beliefs, he is not rigidly ideological 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 mainly united by their dislike for Trump. Biden enters power with strong public support, as 57% of Americans view him favorably and 68% approve of his transition efforts. However, a majority of the public thinks the country is headed in the wrong direction, and 32% do not believe Biden won the election fairly due to Trump's false claims. Biden and Harris bring increased diversity to the highest levels of government. Biden is just the second Catholic president, following John F. Kennedy, and Harris has made history by breaking multiple gender and racial barriers to become vice president. Biden's Cabinet includes record numbers of women and people of color, as well as the first openly gay person to lead a statutory Cabinet department. On the day of the inauguration, a member of the National Guard used his smartphone to capture the scene at the US Capitol. Biden began his day at Blair House, the presidential guest quarters, before attending a service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle with his wife, Jill Biden, Harris, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, along with congressional leaders from both parties, including McConnell. During the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, a National Guard member used his smartphone to film the scene at the US Capitol. 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 presidential history, having hosted Kennedy's funeral. Among the attendees at the swearing-in ceremony were three former presidents and their wives, as well as former Vice President Dan Quayle. In addition to Justices Roberts and Sotomayor, four other Supreme Court members were present, including Justice Elena Kagan and Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, who were appointed by Trump. Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were warmly welcomed at the Capitol for their display of respect during the transition of power, despite Trump's refusal to acknowledge them. This was Pence's first visit since he was hurried out of the Senate chamber to avoid the pro-Trump mob who were calling for his hanging. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks performed at the ceremony, with other stars such as Kerry Washington, Bruce Springsteen, and Demi Lovato slated to join Tom Hanks for the evening performance titled "Celebrating America." Celebrity festivities will bookend the more serious business of the day. 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 hold her first daily briefing, providing reporters with a regular opportunity to question the White House, a practice that had dwindled under Trump. The Bidens will then spend their first night in the White House, completing a journey that began officially in 1987 and unofficially much earlier. These were not the circumstances the new president had anticipated when he began this journey to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, but history always has its surprises.