Amidst an unusual tight security Wednesday, 78-year-old Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US President, thus ending one of the most dramatic political transitions in American history.
“Democracy has prevailed,” he said after taking the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts.
Biden took the oath of office using his 127-year-old family Bible.
Blueprint reports that immediate past President Donald Trump, who has not formally conceded to Senator Biden, was conspicuously absent at the ceremony.
As a clean break from the past, President Biden announced a range of executive orders aimed at reversing Trump’s key policies.
Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris was sworn in ahead of Biden, thus becoming the first woman and the first black and Asian-American person elevated to serve in a role as heartbeat from the presidency.
Ms Harris is the first female VP ever produced in the history of the U.S and first person of colour.
As VP, Ms Harris will also preside over the American Senate whenever important votes are to be decided.
Prior to her swearing in, Ms Harris, an attorney, who was elected senator in 2016, resigned from her seat as senator representing California.
California Governor has already nominated her replacement.
The inauguration is taking place at the US Capitol, where extra-tight security had been a common sight after the building was stormed by violent pro-Trump protesters in a deadly riot January 6.
Some 25,000 National Guards were on standby at the inauguration which is missing the traditional hundreds of thousands of spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Since 1937, January 20, remains the date for swearing-in ceremonies for all American Presidents except where such falls on a Sunday.
Biden, Trump and rough transition
Biden, a former senator and ex-VP to former President Barack Obama, is the oldest president to enter the White House as a first termer in office.
He is also the second Catholic to be elected as President after J. F Kennedy.
Incidentally, the new US Biden used the same church as Mr Kennedy for his inauguration service.
Biden, from Delaware, succeeds Trump whose four-year tenure came to a turbulent end when mob, inspired by his tweets, invaded the Capitol Building January 6 to prevent the American Congress from certifying the electoral victory of Biden.
For his ignoble actions in inciting the mob, Trump was impeached again, for the second time, by the Congress, though the Senate could not debate his second impeachment before the expiration of his tenure.
Also, social media giants – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, blocked Trump indefinitely from using their platforms to incite his thugs to unleash violence.
Biden’s inaugural address
Delivering his inaugural address, Senator Biden pledged to unite the American people, assuring “I will be a President for all Americans.”
In the wake of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and heightened political violence in the country, the president also called on Americans to unite as one and quell the uncivil war orchestrated by dissenting supporters.
He spoke against the backdrop of a mob attack on the Capitol by some unruly protesters violently seeking to upturn his electoral victory.
Further to this, the president also espoused the values of unity and the need to shun political violence.
Biden said: “With unity we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs, we can put people to work in good jobs, we can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus, we can rebuild work, we can rebuild the middle class and make work secure, we can secure racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.
“I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal, that we are all created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism and fear have torn us apart. The battle is perennial and victory is never secure.
“We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts, if we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we’re willing to stand in the other person’s shoes, as my mom would say. Just for a moment, stand in their shoes.
“My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. We have to be better than this and I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as mentioned earlier, completed in the shadow of the Civil War. When the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. We endure, we prevail. Here we stand, looking out on the great Mall, where Dr King spoke of his dream.
“Here we stand, where 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today we mark the swearing in of the first woman elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Don’t tell me things can change. Here we stand where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace.
“And here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen, it will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever. To all those who supported our campaign, I’m humbled by the faith you placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear us out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart.
“If you still disagree, so be it. That’s democracy. That’s America. The right to dissent peacefully. And the guardrail of our democracy is perhaps our nation’s greatest strength. If you hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you. I will be a President for all Americans, all Americans. And I promise you I will fight for those who did not support me as for those who did.”
Biden also spoke on restoring the dignity of America, defending the nation’s constitution and uniting the country.
Dignitaries in attendance
Vice President Kamala Harris and Doug Enihoff, former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle; former President Bill Clinton and wife Hilary; former President George and Laura Bush; immediate past Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Nancy Pelosi were some of the guests present at the inauguration.
Notable American artistes were on hand to add colour to the occasion.
They include Lady Gaga rendered the national anthem, while Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks both gave musical performances with 22-year-old poet- Amanda Gorman reading a poem of hope at the inauguration.
Earlier, Senator Biden attended Mass at a cathedral in Washington – along with four Roman Catholic congressional leaders, both Democrats and Republicans.
Biden has set out a flurry of executive orders. In a statement Wednesday, Biden said he would sign 15 orders after his inauguration.
Other orders will cover race and gender equality, along with climate issues.
Biden’s vice-president will swear in three new Democratic senators on Wednesday, leaving the upper chamber of Congress evenly split between the two main parties. This will allow the vice-president to act as a tie-breaker in key votes.
Biden’s legislative ambitions could be tempered by the slender majorities he holds in both the Senate and House of Representative
Trump, wife stay away
And true to his vow not to attend the inauguration, former President Trump and his wife stayed away from the venue.
Trump’s absence is neither unusual nor historic. Some five outgoing presidents had in the past, skipped the inauguration of their successors for various reasons.
But, in 2017, despite political and ideological differences, Obama and his wife attended Trump’s inauguration as the 45th President of the U.S.
Trump’s absence at the inauguration may not be unconnected with his claim that the November 2020 presidential election was rigged against him, a claim that was dismissed by the court.
He left the White House at about 08:00 (13:00 GMT) on Wednesday, and flew to the nearby Andrews Air Force base.
In his farewell address at the base, he highlighted what he regarded as the successes of his presidency. “What we’ve done has been amazing by any standard,” Trump said.
The 74-year-old then left for his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida, where he arrived later in the morning.
In his last hours as president, Mr Trump granted clemency to more than 140 people, including his former adviser Steve Bannon, who had been facing fraud charges.
The political drama surrounding Mr Trump is far from over. The US Senate is expected to put him on trial soon, following his record second impeachment by the House of Representatives for allegedly inciting the Capitol riot.
On Tuesday, the Senate’s Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, said the mob had been provoked by Mr. Trump and fed lies.
Buhari welcomes Biden
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday welcomed the inauguration of Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris as President and Vice President of the United States of America, respectively.
The president expressed hope that their presidency would mark a strong point of cooperation and support for Nigeria and African continent.
The president congratulated the leaders, and entire country on the successful transition, which marks an important historical inflection point for democracy as a system of government and for the global community as a whole.
“We look forward to the Biden presidency with great hope and optimism for strengthening of existing cordial relationships, working together to tackle global terrorism, climate change, poverty and improvement of economic ties and expansion of trade.
“We hope that this will be an era of great positivity between our two nations, as we jointly address issues of mutual interest,” he said.
The president said Nigerians rejoice with Joe Biden, sharing the proud feeling that the first woman elected Vice President of the United States has an African and Asian ancestry.
