An Inauguration Day Like No Other: Joe Biden Takes Oath of Office

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Currents News Staff

Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States. Using his family’s 1893 Bible, the nation’s second Catholic president took the oath of office from Catholic U.S. Supreme Chief Justice John Roberts.

It was a scaled down inauguration, with a small crowd and big security. Instead of the usual throng of thousands of onlookers, a field of American flags filled the National Mall with 25,000 National Guard Troops working to keep things safe, exactly two weeks after protesters stormed the Capitol.

Biden used his inaugural address to deliver a message of unity. He also spoke about the pandemic, domestic terrorism and racism, but said politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire: unity is the path forward.

“Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause,” he said. “As the Bible says, we may endure for a night- but joy cometh in morning. We will get through this together.” 

The new president began his day practicing what he preaches by attending a church service with members of the GOP. Biden invited Senator Mitch McConnell and others to join him for a private Mass at the Cathedral of st. Matthew the Apostle.

But while the incoming president was making his way to church, the outgoing president, Donald Trump, was leaving the White House for the last time as 45th president. Trump skipped the inauguration, but did have some gracious words for his successor.

“I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they’ll have great success,” he said. 

And President Biden, wasting no time, got right to work to sign several executive orders.

“This is a great nation, we’re good people. Over the centuries through storm and strife, peace and war, we’ve come so far. But we still have far to go. We’ll press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities.”