Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris as Vice President in a historic ceremony to take the leadership of a nation ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic and deeply divided by deep political hostility.
The daughter of Shyamala Gopalan became the first Indian-American, the first woman, and the first African-American to be sworn in as the Vice President.
Biden declared after being swearing in, “Democracy has prevailed.”
Before Biden, Harris took the oath of office on two Bibles held by her husband Doug Emhoff, one of them that belonged to Regina Helton, whom she has called her “second mother” and another belonged to Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
She was sworn-in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the court.
Next, Biden swore on a hefty family bible that his wife Jill Biden held. Chief Justice John Roberts gave him the oath of office.
At the stroke of noon, they assume the Presidency and Vice Presidency as mandated by the Constitution.
US President Donald Trump left Washington on Wednesday just three hours ahead of the inauguration of his successor Joe Biden, saying it had been an “incredible four years” and promising to be “back in some form.”
“I just want to say goodbye but hopefully it’s not a long-term goodbye,” Trump said in remarks to reporters at the White House before he and First Lady Melania Trump walked a short red carpet and boarded Marine One for the helicopter ride to Joint Base Andrews.
Speaking to a small crowd of supporters, staff and family members at Andrews after a 21-gun salute and a serenade of “Hail to the Chief,” Trump said “this has been an incredible four years.”
“We’ve accomplished so much together,” he said. “I will always fight for you. It is my greatest honor and privilege to have been your president,” he said. “We will be back in some form.”
The 74-year-old Trump has hinted at running for President again in 2024, but faces a trial in the Senate over his role in the January 6 storming of the US Capitol by his supporters and a potential ban on holding office in the future.
Trump boarded Air Force One after his remarks and the presidential jet took off for the two-hour flight to Florida as Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played on loudspeakers on the tarmac on a sunny but chilly day.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Joe Biden for being sworn in as the new President of United States and said the two countries are united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security.
The Prime Minister said in tweets that he looked forward to working with Biden to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. “My warmest congratulations to @JoeBiden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership,” he said. “My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security,” he added.
The Prime Minister said the India-US partnership is based on shared values and he will work with Biden to take it to greater heights.
“We have a substantial and multifaceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages. Committed to working with President @JoeBiden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights,” he said.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu also congratulated Biden and Kamala Harris for being sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States. “Congratulations and best wishes to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on being sworn in as the President and Vice President of USA. India-US ties are based on many shared values and I am sure that the partnership between the two nations will get further cemented in the coming years,” he said in a tweet.
Biden and Harris were sworn as the 46th President and 49th Vice President of the United States on Wednesday.