By: Tristan Hill
WASHINGTON (UATV) — President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have officially taken their respective offices of President and Vice President of the United States.
In a largely empty Capitol garrisoned under military security, Biden and Harris took their oaths to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.
In an already historic event, Vice President Harris made history as well — becoming both the first woman and person of color to serve in the United States’ number two position.
Surrounded by officials, former presidents and celebrity performers, President Biden hailed the event as a win for democracy.
“We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed,” he said.
Following a year overwhelmed with dissent, economic uncertainty and a pandemic that challenged the world, the newly-fulfilled Biden administration represents a change in policy and direction.
President Biden took the inaugural opportunity, as many past presidents have, to extend an olive branch across the aisle.
“I will be a president for all Americans,” he said.
Now-former President Donald J. Trump elected not to attend the inauguration, departing D.C. after addressing a small group of supporters in a send-off rally. Trump became the seventh president not to attend his successor’s inauguration, following Nixon, who resigned after the Senate filed articles of impeachment in an attempt to prosecute him for his relation to the Watergate break-in scandal.
In another unprecedented break from tradition, around 4,000 national guard members from 19 states took up defense of the Capitol, following a riot that left five people dead and damage to the center of the nation’s legislative power.
The city remained reportedly tense in the hours leading up to the inauguration.
The events’ traditions went off without any significant interference, Harris and Biden being sworn in just before Noon EST.