Joe Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th president of the United States, in an inauguration like no other before.
Before Joe Biden, Kamala Harris was also sworn in as the first female vice-president in US history.
She was sworn into office by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who made history in 2009 as the first Latina on the top court.
Wednesday’s Inauguration Day was without the presence of the outgoing president for the first time in 152 years.
And with Washington DC essentially in lockdown, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced virtual Inauguration Day events for Americans to watch after urging people to refrain from attending in person.
Americans have been told to ‘stay home’ to prevent further spread of the coronavirus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States.The ceremony in which presidential power is transferred – a hallowed American democratic tradition – will serve as a reminder of the challenges Biden faces. The inauguration will unfold at a US Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago.
Ahead of the inauguration, Donald Trump departed the White House for the final time as US president, travelling to Florida to greet supporters instead of attending the inauguration.
