With control of the official government social media accounts now handed over to the Biden administration, the White House has released its first video:
First Biden White House video released
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) January 20, 2021
Focus on covid
Climate
Racial justice
Middle class
pic.twitter.com/xMlSE0FNwY
Biden promises the American people as he closes his speech that “before God, and all of you, I give you my word I will always level with you. Together we will write an American story of hope, not fear.”
Biden references the events of the Capitol riot.
“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.”
Also speaks of uniting the country.
Biden, focused on “unity,” says, “We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural vs. urban, conservative vs liberal.” #InaugurationDay
— Brittany Bernstein (@brittybernstein) January 20, 2021
Biden begins his speech praising the peaceful transfer of power.
“Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy.”
“Democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour — my friends, democracy has prevailed.”
I don't make the rules.
Fact-check: Biden will become president in nine minutes. pic.twitter.com/7r5jrxaAUw
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) January 20, 2021
. . . though as John notes, it was 10 minutes early.
Fact-check: Biden will become president in nine minutes. pic.twitter.com/7r5jrxaAUw
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) January 20, 2021
Chief Justice John Roberts has sworn in Joseph Biden as the 46th President of the United States.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor has sworn in Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States.
BREAKING: Kamala Harris takes the oath of office to become the first woman Vice President of the United States of America. https://t.co/qjeUynJUdz #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/S0X0yAuevr
— ABC News (@ABC) January 20, 2021
After four years of Donald Trump as president, and a year and a half of Trump as a candidate before that, today’s inauguration ceremony began remarkably… normal, at least as it appeared on the stage. We’re witnessing all of the usual traditional ritualistic pomp, solemn prayers, boilerplate language about the greatness of America and democracy, bipartisan handshakes and small talk. One half of the congressional leaders on that stage will be fighting with the other half starting tomorrow, but for today, everyone knows their role is to sit, smile, be gracious, applaud, and act as if they genuinely believe that what unites us is greater than what divides us.
The day is a reversion to American politics as it existed June 15, 2015, the day before Trump descended the escalator at Trump Tower and blew up the status quo. We will see how long it lasts.
If you're not watching the live television coverage of the inauguration, you're missing a gathering of almost all of the nation's political leaders in one place: Vice President Mike Pence, former president George W. Bush, former president Barack Obama, all of the current congressional leaders, Alex Rodriguez…
Er, yes, former baseball all-star Alex Rodriguez is mingling with the former presidents. His fiance, Jennifer Lopez, will be performing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”