President Joe Biden became president on Wednesday, calling for all Americans to come together while delivering his first remarks on the same steps of the Capitol that had been overrun with protesters two weeks ago.
“Unity is the path forward,” Biden said.
After his speech, country singer Garth Books continued that theme by asking those watching in person or at home to join him in singing “Amazing Grace.”
Vice President Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, and the first person of Black or Indian descent, to hold that office.
After leaving the West Front, Biden tweeted that he would begin addressing immediately the tough challenges he faces.
“There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face,” he said in his first presidential tweet. “That’s why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.
Biden ends 21-minute inaugural address: ‘Thank you, America’
Biden’s inaugural address clocked in at 21 minutes and ended with a call for Americans to meet the nation’s challenges with “purpose and resolve” as he thanked the country.
“With purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our times, sustained by faith, driven by conviction,” Biden said. “My God bless America and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America.”
The speech may have seemed short, but it’s in line with the length of recent inaugural addresses.
Trump’s 2017 inaugural speech was 15 minutes. Like Biden, Barack Obama spoke for 21 minutes in his 2009 inaugural address and 18 minutes in 2013. George W. Bush spoke for 15 minutes in 2001. And Bill Clinton’s inaugural addressed clocked in at 22 minutes in 1997 and just 14 minutes in 1993.
— Joey Garrison
Social media accounts change over to Biden administration
As President Joe Biden was giving his inaugural address, accounts on various social media sites officially changed from the Trump administration over to the Biden administration – marking the end of the 45th presidency and the start of the 46th.
On Twitter, @Transition46 now owns the White House account.
Twitter transferred @POTUS from former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden.
@SenKamalaHarris has become @VP, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is under @FLOTUS.
Also, a new account @SecondGentleman has been created for Doug Emhoff, the country’s first-ever Second Gentleman.
Before Trump’s personal account was permanently banned from Twitter Jan. 8, the @POTUS account was filled with retweets of the personal account. In his final days in office, Trump couldn’t use the official account either after he attempted to use the @POTUS account, which Twitter said was an attempt to evade a suspension and violated its rules.
Source: USAToday
