Joe Biden is the 46th president of the United States. The former Delaware senator and former vice president was sworn in minutes after Kamala Harris, who became the first female vice president of African-American and Indian descent, during the ceremony settlement held in front of the Capitol in Washington.
BIDEN'S SPEECH
“It is a crucial day. Today we are not celebrating the victory of a candidate but the triumph of democracy. We have listened to the voice of the people and we are listening to the will of the people. Let us remember that democracy is precious but fragile and today it won”. These are the words that Biden chose to open his first (short, it lasted only 20 minutes) speech as president. The references are very clear: Trump's allegations of untried fraud, the numerous failed legal appeals but above all the assault on the Capitol of January 6 that shook the world.
In a very frank, clear and heartfelt speech in which he quoted Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and St. Augustine, an emotional Joe Biden pushed hard on the need to rediscover national unity, on the need to heal a country divided by anger, lies, the pandemic. "The past months have taught us a painful truth: there is truth and there are lies, told for power, for profit", he said referring to his predecessor. “We have a duty to defeat lies".
"The United States has a lot to do in this dangerous winter, a lot to repair and restore," he said, listing the problems to be solved: the Covid-19 emergency, with the United States at the top of the world rankings by number of infections and deaths, the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic, the social divisions plaguing the United States, climate change and domestic terrorism.
To solve such big and immediate problems "we need the most elusive thing of all in a democracy: unity". “Let's start from scratch", urged Biden, recalling that the history of the United States has always been characterized by a "constant battle between the American idea that all men are equal and racism and the demonization of the other". “I know talking about unity may seem like a crazy fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and real. And I also know that they are nothing new. But unity is the only way forward”
Biden then remembered the more than 400 people who died of coronavirus: “The virus claimed more lives than Americans died in World War II, but we can beat it,” he said, inviting those present to hold a minute of silence to commemorate the victims.
The new president has insisted a lot on the need to reunite the country after the divisions of recent years (another reference to Trump, whom Biden never mentions and does not thank), to give American citizens new hope and a new vision. "America was tested, and came out stronger." “The world is watching us. We will mend our alliances, we will be a guide not with the example of our strength, but with the strength of our example”. “Today my whole soul is in this – he added, quoting Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 – uniting our people: I ask all Americans to join me in this cause. United against the enemies we face, hatred, extremism, violent lawlessness, disease, unemployment, lack of hope: with unity we can do important things,” he added.
Biden has repeatedly addressed those who did not vote for him, launching a message that aims to mend frictions and put an end to the controversies of recent months, but he has also made it clear that riots will not be tolerated: "We will win over white supremacy and on domestic terrorists, I will be the president of all Americans, I will also fight for those who have not supported me”.
THE OATH
At 17.48 Italian time, ahead of schedule, Joe Biden swore before Chief Justice John Roberts about the 127-year-old family Bible held by his wife Jill. “I, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., solemnly swear that I will faithfully perform the duties of President of the United States and will diligently preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States to the best of my ability. God help me". This is the usual formula. Biden has conquered three records: he has become the oldest president to take office (78 years old), the first president from Delaware (although he was born in Pennsylvania) and the second Catholic president in American history after John F. Kennedy.
It was a one-of-a-kind ceremony for the huge security measures due to the assault on Capitol Hill (25 agents present) and due to the restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many personalities attended the swearing-in: Barack and Michelle Obama, George W. Bush with his wife Laura, Bill and Hillary Clinton. Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, two former Trump allies, also attended the ceremony. Joining McConnell was Elaine Chao, the wife of the former Trump administration transportation secretary. Absent, as known, the former president, flown to Florida before the start of Inauguration day.
In the distance, the National Mall is a glance: almost 200 US flags have been placed along the avenue that goes from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, to symbolize the citizens who would have liked to participate in the ceremony and were unable to do so due to the restrictions.
Curiosity: seconds after the end of the oath, the official Twitter account of the American president (@POTUS) was passed from Donald Trump to Joe Biden, as were those of the vice president, passed from Mike Pence to Kamala Harris (@VP) and first lady, from Melania Trump to Jill Biden (@FLOTUS).
kamala harris
A few minutes before Biden, Kamala Harris was also sworn in, first female vice president, of African-American and Indian ancestry. Symbolism permeated the entire day. For her oath in the hands of Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the vice president used two Bibles: one from Regina Shelton, considered by Kamala Harris and her sister Maya to be a 'second mother'; the other belonging to the first African-American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall.
Just before the swearing-in of the vice president, the former secretary of state and former first lady Hillary Clinton he tweeted: "I'm glad to think that what is historic for us today - a woman swearing in for the vice presidency, will seem like a normal and obvious thing when Kamala's granddaughters are grown up."
THE NEXT HOURS
The Inauguration day opened with Lady Gaga singing the American anthem. A little later, Jennifer Lopez and country singer Garth Brooks also performed and sang Amazing Grace. At the end of Biden's speech, the young poet Amanda Gorman took the stage and read a composition by her entitled The Hill We Climb. The day continues with the army inspection (another tradition) of the president and vice president who will later go to the Arlington military cemetery to pay homage to the veterans who died in the war together with the former vice presidents and their wives.
Immediately afterwards Biden and Harris will go to the White House. Due to the restrictions due to the Covid-19 and the massive security measures after the assault on Capitol Hill, it was canceled the traditional parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, replaced by a television show featuring performances by artists from across the United States. In the evening, a TV show hosted by the Oscar-winning actor, Tom Hanks, will also be attended remotely by Bruce Springsteen, Ant Clemons, Jon Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, Eva Longoria, John Legend, Kerry Washington, Demi Lovato and Justin Timberlake. Guests included sports personalities such as NBA basketball icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kim Ng, the first female general manager of men's professional baseball.
TRUMP'S FAREWELL SPEECH: "WE WILL BE BACK"
A few hours before the start of Biden's inauguration ceremony, Donald Trump has left the White House.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to be your president,” Trump said in his farewell address from the St. Andrews base. “We've done a lot, it's been an incredible 4 years. In a few months we have developed a vaccine against Covid, a miracle. We have cut taxes and achieved many goals. We have the largest country and the largest economy in the world,” continued the former president.
“I will always continue to fight for you. I love you. We will return somehow. We will see you again soon. I wish the new administration great luck and success,” Trump said, without naming Biden directly.
Recall that Trump took advantage of his last day as president to pardon 143 people, all directly linked to him or his administration. Among them is also Steve Bannon, former advisor and strategist to the former president, as well as a point of reference for the far right, who was arrested last August on charges of fraud and money laundering.
(Last update: 20.22 pm on 20 January).
