The month of January 2021 has been an eventful one. On Wednesday, January 6th, there was a deadly insurrection against the United States Capitol building. On the following Wednesday, President Donald Trump became the first president in United States history to be impeached by the House of Representatives twice. Most recently, on Wednesday the 20th, Joseph R. Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, with Kamala Harris, vice president at his side.
In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, there were concerns about a safe transition of power being able to happen as outlined in the Constitution, due to the insurrection at the Capitol on the 6th. As a result, about 25,000 National Guard troops were stationed in Washington D.C. to secure federal property and protect the incoming President and Vice President. Furthermore, 12 guardsmen were relieved of duty in the Capital due to “security precautions,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense. There were also perceived threats to government buildings throughout the states. In particular, there was heightened security outside of many state capitol buildings. Despite concerns, there were no major protests during Biden’s inauguration in Washington D.C. or around the states.
The inauguration itself was full of inspiring performances, feats for democracy, a meme-worthy outfit from Bernie Sanders, and an address from the new president. The setting for the inauguration looked especially different from previous years, with no great crowds gathered on the National Mall. Instead, the inauguration featured the hallmarks of the ongoing pandemic, with masks, social distancing, and frequent sanitization of the podium. Though former President Trump was not present (the first president in decades to snub an election, according to the New York Times), his vice president Mike Pence was present along with many other esteemed attendees, including the Obamas, Nancy Pelosi, and Hillary Clinton. The inauguration featured performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. While all three women were commended, Gorman got special praise for her poem entitled “The Hill We Climb” that she delivered beautifully. With notes of hope, resilience, and unity, Gorman’s poem closed with “The new dawn blooms as we free it/For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it/If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
American strength and growth was spoken and shown in many ways at the inauguration, including the swearing-in of Kamala Harris as Vice President by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Harris is the first black, Indian and female Vice President in American history. On Wednesday, many images were shared on social media showing young girls watching Harris on their TVs with wide smiles and hope on their faces. This is a monumental step for representation in American government, and women and men alike have hope for the way Harris will shape Washington for years to come. Following Harris, President Biden was sworn-in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts. His wife, Dr. Jill Biden was by his side, holding the Biden family Bible. Biden then gave his inaugural address to the nation, during which he emphasized a message of unity, American strength, and hope. During his first day as President, Biden signed 17 different executive orders, telling reporters, “there’s no time to start like today.” As Biden and Harris face a polarized nation, a pandemic, and countless other challenges, they surely have a lot of work ahead of them.
