Andrew Harnik – Pool/Getty Images
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden took the oath of office at noon Wednesday to become the 46th president of the United States. He takes charge in a deeply divided nation, inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.
Kamala Harris has been sworn in as the nation’s first female vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.
President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to overcome their divisions, declaring in his first address in office that “without unity, there is no peace.”
Biden also pledged during his inaugural address Wednesday that he would be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying that leaders have an obligation “to defend the truth and defeat the lies.”
He asked even those who did not vote for him to give him a chance. He said, “Hear me out as we move forward.”
As he did frequently during the campaign, Biden pledged that he will be a “president for all Americans” and will “fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.”
He added, “We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue.”
Watch the complete speech inauguration here:
Today, we begin anew. Tune in for #Inauguration2021. https://t.co/HxfU8q5riA
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 20, 2021
BREAKING: Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States https://t.co/tcmAzrzqTx pic.twitter.com/ShNj0rc7oT
— CNN (@CNN) January 20, 2021
VIDEO: The historic swearing in of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to hold the office. https://t.co/VV983oJlEU pic.twitter.com/P2cprHbBNF
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) January 20, 2021
FULL AMANDA GORMAN POEM:
“We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one … There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
The 22-year-old is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history: https://t.co/SIPU57hEKH pic.twitter.com/X4JQZO8rlY
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 20, 2021
Lady Gaga performs the national anthem at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden https://t.co/tcmAzrzqTx pic.twitter.com/sQZv08Twjk
— CNN (@CNN) January 20, 2021
