Biden sworn in as 46th U.S. president, calls for national unity amid bitter division

2021-Jan-21       Source: CCTV.com

At an unusual inauguration closed to the public due to the still raging coronavirus pandemic, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday at the West Front of the Ca

Photo: Xinhua

At an unusual inauguration closed to the public due to the still raging coronavirus pandemic, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday at the West Front of the Capitol, which was breached two weeks ago by violent protesters trying to overturn his election victory.

Under the gaze of National Guard troops standing beneath the Capitol steps facing the reflection pool to reinforce security for the ceremony, Biden took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, putting his hand on the 127-year-old family Bible.

Moments before, Kamala Harris was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the 49th vice president of the United States, becoming the first female and woman of color to hold the nation's second-highest office.

Biden said in his inauguration speech that his "whole soul is in" unifying a nation torn apart by the many challenges that need to be overcome and he urged the American people to come together at a "historic moment of crisis."

The president didn't mention his predecessor, Donald Trump, from whom he didn't receive the traditional applause on the platform since Trump had arrived at his private residence in Florida as Biden spoke. Yet, Biden has vowed to undo many of Trump's policies and was expected to do so by signing a flurry of executive orders later in the day.

Editor: Alice

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