Biden, 78, took the presidential oath of office with his hand on a family Bible that has been passed down for over a century, administered by US Chief Justice John Roberts just after noon. He pledged to uphold the Constitution of the United States. This inauguration ceremony in Washington was significantly toned down due to the coronavirus and security concerns following the attack on the US Capitol on January 6. Outgoing President Donald Trump broke tradition by not meeting with Biden or attending the inauguration, further defying norms by not mentioning Biden by name in his final remarks before leaving for his retreat in Florida. Prominent Republicans, such as Vice President Mike Pence and congressional leaders, attended Biden's inauguration, along with former US Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate and the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, made history as 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 court's first Latina member, using two Bibles including one owned by Thurgood Marshall, the first Black US Supreme Court Justice. Biden assumes office during a time of significant national unease, with the country grappling with multiple crises including the pandemic, economic downturn, climate change, and racial inequality. He has pledged swift action, including 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 followers broke into the building two weeks ago, angry over his unfounded allegations of election fraud. The violence led to Trump's second impeachment by the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives last week. Following the attack, thousands of National Guard troops were deployed in the city, resulting in five deaths and lawmakers temporarily seeking shelter. Instead of a large crowd of supporters, the National Mall was adorned with nearly 200,000 flags and 56 pillars of light symbolizing people from US states and territories. Biden, who has promised to "heal the soul of America," is expected to urge national unity during his inaugural speech in response to the current crisis. His inauguration marks the peak of a fifty-year career in public service, with over thirty years in the US Senate and two terms as vice president under former President Barack Obama. However, he is now facing 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 due to pandemic-related closures and restrictions. Biden has promised to use the full power of the federal government to address the crisis. His main focus is a $1.9 trillion proposal that would improve unemployment benefits and give direct payments to households. However, this plan needs to be approved by a Congress that is sharply divided, with Democrats holding narrow majorities in both the House and Senate. Harris was set to swear in three new Democratic senators on Wednesday night, resulting in a 50-50 split in the Senate with herself as the tie-breaking vote. Biden is eager to move past the Trump administration and will quickly sign 15 executive orders on Wednesday addressing issues such as the pandemic, economy, and climate change. These orders will include requiring masks on federal property, rejoining the Paris climate agreement, and ending Trump's travel restrictions on certain Muslim-majority countries. Even though Biden has a busy agenda for his first 100 days, with plans to administer 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations, the Senate may be preoccupied with Trump's upcoming impeachment trial, which is proceeding even though he is no longer in office. This trial could be an early test of Biden's commitment to promoting bipartisanship in Washington. Trump granted over 140 pardons and commutations in his final hours as president, including one for his former adviser Steve Bannon, who is facing charges related to a fundraising scheme for a border wall. Despite speculation, Trump did not pardon himself or his family members.