The inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President on Wednesday took place amid a slew of firsts: Unprecedented security, in the aftermath of the storming of the Capitol on January 6; an audience of mostly dignataries, no large crowds like those of inaugurations past; the swearing in of the first African-American, Asian-American, and first Asian Vice President; and the inauguration ceremony of the oldest President in US history.
Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who bravely diverted a mob from the House chamber during the attack on January 6, escorted Kamala Harris to the Capitol building on January 20, as the Vice-President elect arrived to take her oath of office—becoming America’s first Black, first South Asian, and first female, Vice President.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court, administered the oath of office to Harris. “I, Kamala Devi Harris, do solemnly swear, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Harris said.
She was sworn in on two Bibles—one that belonged to a close family friend named Regina Shelton and another that belonged to Thurgood Marshall—the country's first African American Supreme Court justice.
In her first tweet as Vice President from her official Twitter handle, she said: "Ready to serve."
Harris, the daughter of an Indian immigrant from Chennai, scripted history by becoming the first-ever woman Vice President of the United States. Her husband Douglas Emhoff, 56, is the first Second Gentleman' - the first male spouse of a vice president in the US.
In a purple dress, designed by two Black designers, Harris arrived for the historic moment. Former Presidents and their families were also present, including Barack and Michelle Obama, the Clintons and the Bushes. Missing, in a breach of tradition, was the outgoing president, Donald Trump, who boarded an Air Force One flight to Florida on Wednesday morning after leaving the White House for the final time.
Lady Gaga sang the national anthem; later, Jennifer Lopez performed a rendition of Ray Charles' 'America, the Beautiful'. Unlike inaugurations past, there were no large crowds of supporters, instead, a field of flags represented the people who could not be present due to the necessity of social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden, 78, took the oath of office as the 46th President of the United States while Harris, 56, was sworn in as the 49th US Vice President.
Over 25,000 National Guard troops are guarding the venue and nearby areas to ensure that the nation's transfer of power can take place peacefully.
Biden, who is set to be the oldest president in American history, will succeed President Donald Trump, 74, who has decided not to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Harris takes over the office of the US Vice President from 61-year-old Mike Pence.
With inputs from PTI