A Look Back on the 2021 Presidential Inauguration

On January 20, 2021, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Kamala Harris were sworn into office and officially became the 46th President and 49th Vice President of the United States. Throughout the Inauguration, millions of Americans watched as President Biden delivered his Inaugural Address, prominent musicians performed, and politicians congratulated the president. In his address, the new president stated, “Today, on this January Day, my whole soul is in this; bringing America together, uniting our people, [and] uniting our nation.” In addition, President Biden said that this Inauguration Day was a triumph for democracy. The president declared that he would work to unite the country and develop a roadmap to end the spread of COVID-19. 

During the Inauguration, Americans watched several well-known musicians such as, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, John Legend and Katy Perry, perform inspiring and unifying songs. Additionally, a 22-year-old poet, Amanda Gorman, recited her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” in front of the Capitol as the audience listened to her powerful words. Gorman wrote: 

“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it,

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.

And this effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed,

It can never be permanently defeated.”

Hence, the themes of peace, unity and prosperity were highlighted throughout the Inauguration. 

Later in the evening, President Biden immediately signed 17 orders that will bring the United States back into the Paris climate agreement, require White House officials to wear masks in federal buildings, and repeal President Trump’s order banning immigrants from traveling to the country from primarily Muslim countries.The President also pledged to focus on COVID-19, economic relief, and equity, each day through the end of the month. President Biden later swore in hundreds of his administration’s appointees and reminded them that he would entrust them to “restore the soul of this country.” 

Towards the end of the evening, President Biden visited the Lincoln Memorial and addressed the nation saying, “You, the American people are the reason why I have never been more optimistic about America than I am this very day." He added: “There isn’t anything we can’t do, if we do it together. So thank you for this honor, I will give my all to you.” Lastly, the president, vice president and Biden administration will continue to focus on battling the pandemic and restoring our nation’s unity.