 Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president of the United States | |
| Date | January 20, 2021 |
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| Location | United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. |
| Organized by | Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, Inaugural Committee |
| Participants | Joe Biden 46th president of the United States — Assuming office John Roberts Chief Justice of the United States — Administering oath Kamala Harris 49th vice president of the United States — Assuming office Sonia Sotomayor Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States — Administering oath |
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Personal U.S. Senator from Delaware 47th Vice President of the United States Vice presidential campaigns 46th President of the United States Incumbent Tenure   |
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| January 6 United States Capitol attack |
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| Timeline • Planning |
| Background |
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| Aftermath |
The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States took place on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was the 59th inauguration and marked the commencement of Joe Biden's only term as president and Kamala Harris' only term as vice president. Biden took the presidential oath of office, before which Harris took the vice presidential oath of office.
The inauguration took place amidst extraordinary political, public health, economic, and national security crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic; outgoing President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, which provoked an attack on the United States Capitol on January 6; Trump's second impeachment; and a threat of widespread civil unrest, which stimulated a nationwide law enforcement response. Festivities were sharply curtailed by efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the potential for violence near the Capitol.[1][2] The live audience was limited; members of the Congress attended with one guest of their choosing, resembling a State of the Union address.[3] Public health measures such as mandatory face coverings, testing, temperature checks, and social distancing were used to protect participants in the ceremony.[4]
"America United" and "Our Determined Democracy: Forging a More Perfect Union"—a reference to the Preamble to the United States Constitution—served as the inaugural themes.[5]
At 78 years, 61 days of age on Inauguration Day, Biden was the oldest person to assume the presidency. Nearly four years later, in 2025, he is expected to be surpassed by Donald Trump at 78 years, 220 days.
- ^ Lisa Mascaro; Mary Clare Jalonick (January 14, 2021). "Trump impeachment trial to focus on his attacks on election". AP News. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ Felicia Sonmez; Colby Itkowitz; John Wagner; Paulina Firozi; Nick Miroff (January 11, 2021). "Acting homeland security secretary Wolf to step down, nine days ahead of Biden inauguration". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ "JCCIC Announces Attendance Guidelines for 59th Inaugural Ceremonies". Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Shear, Michael D.; Fandos, Nicholas (November 30, 2020). "Biden's Inauguration: Expect Smaller Crowds and More Social Distancing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Blunt, Roy (November 2, 2020). "59th inaugural ceremonies: 'Our Determined Democracy: Forging a More Perfect Union'". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.