Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, having defeated Donald Trump in an acrimonious, divisive election last November.
Biden was sworn in alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in an unusual inauguration ceremony, conducted amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis and heightened physical security risks.
Events for the day include:
- 9 a.m. PT: Swearing-in ceremonies, followed by Biden’s inaugural address.
- 11 a.m. PT: Wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery. Biden and Harris will be joined by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
- Noon PT: Presidential escort to the White House followed by a virtual “parade” with scenes across the country.
- 4 p.m. PT: Press briefing with Biden press secretary Jen Psaki.
- 5:30 p.m. PT: Evening program hosted by Tom Hanks with musical performances by John Legend, Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake and others.
Biden will come into office facing a public health crisis, a battered economy and deepened political rifts, as well as global concerns such as climate change. Still, he projects optimism, vowing to help heal the nation.
As part of his promise to the American people, Biden has sought to make his Cabinet the most diverse in U.S. history, reflected in part by Harris, who will be the first woman, the first African American and the first Indian American to hold the office of the vice presidency.
Biden’s election victory marked the end of the Trump White House era, which was plagued by personal and political scandals, two impeachments and a call to action at the U.S. Capitol that was answered by violent, pro-Trump insurrectionists. Trump is not attending Wednesday’s ceremony.
Inauguration Day updates from NPR:
A Look At Biden’s 1st Day In Office: On his first day in office, President Biden delivered a message of unity and signed a raft of executive actions. NPR discusses the major events of Inauguration Day.
Biden Is President, But Some In Rural West Still Cling To False Notion That Trump Won: President Biden has been sworn in, but some people in conservative parts of the U.S. say they still believe the false notion that former President Donald Trump is the winner of the 2020 election.
In Flurry Of Executive Orders, Biden Reverses Some Of Trump’s Immigration Policies: President Biden has signed executive orders rolling back parts of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. He also shared more details on an immigration bill he hopes Congress will pass.
What Europe Expects From The Biden Administration: The Biden administration has a lot of work ahead to repair alliances, particularly in Europe. NPR takes a look at what the U.K. and European Union expect from an incoming administration.
Los Angeles Voters On Their Hopes For New Administration: Some Los Angeles voters hope that President Biden will be quick to condemn the kind of racism and anti-immigrant sentiments that former President Donald Trump brought out in many of his supporters.
Senate Confirms Avril Haines As Director Of National Intelligence: Haines has made history as the first woman to hold the top job in U.S. intelligence.
China Slaps Sanctions On 28 Trump Administration Officials, Including Mike Pompeo: In a statement released just minutes after President Biden took office, China’s foreign ministry said it was sanctioning those “who have violated China’s sovereignty.”
Toxic Pesticide Faces New Scrutiny From Biden Administration: President Biden’s wave of executive actions includes an order to reexamine one controversial, but widely used, pesticide called chlorpyrifos. The Trump administration kept it on the market.
Stocks Close On Record Highs After Biden Inauguration: The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all hit new records as markets closed on Wednesday. Former President Donald Trump frequently cited stock market gains as a personal accomplishment.
Brown Girls Book Club Comes Together To Celebrate And Watch Historic Inauguration: The group of women who’ve met for 25 years watched the event with tears and cheers. Some are, like Kamala Harris, graduates of Howard University and/or members of Harris’ Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
The QAnon ‘Storm’ Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast: A collection of conspiracy theories fuel the QAnon community, but one prediction was central: that former president Donald Trump would arrest Democratic leaders in masse. That didn’t happen.
Rioter Charged With Assaulting Officer In Incident Captured On Viral Video: Investigators allege it was Connecticut resident Patrick Edward McCaughey III who pinned an officer against a door during the Capitol riot. Video of the officer being crushed quickly went viral.
Biden Becomes 46th U.S. President In Inauguration Ceremony Unlike Any Other: On Inauguration Day, President Biden called for unity among Americans and is expected to sign a set of executive orders. NPR takes a look at the inaugural events.
Biden To Move Quickly On Climate Change, Reversing Trump Rollbacks: President Biden has set his sights on more than 100 Trump administration environmental rollbacks as well as plans to rejoin the international climate accord.
Voice of America CEO Pack, Defined By Scandal, Resigns At Biden’s Request: Michael Pack’s record at the parent agency for the Voice of America includes charges of bias, firings, investigations and more. He called President Biden’s request for him to resign a “partisan act.”
New Georgia Senators Sworn In, Democrats Now Officially Control The Senate: A Democratic majority, even a thin one, allows the party to set the chamber’s legislative agenda and makes it easier to confirm Biden’s Cabinet picks.
As President Biden Awaits Cabinet Confirmation, White House Announces Interim Leaders: Nearly two dozen career civil servants have been named by the Biden administration to temporarily lead the nation’s federal agencies in the next phase of the transition of government.
Biden Moves Quickly On Climate Change, Reversing Trump Rollbacks: President Biden set his sights on more than 100 Trump administration environmental rollbacks, as well as rejoining the international climate accord.
Massachusetts Voters Share Their Hopes For New Administration: Some Massachusetts voters hope that the Biden administration will do better on protecting the environment and managing the pandemic. But some say they fear President Biden may be too moderate.
Biden Receives Presidential Escort To The White House: The new administration and their families were escorted to the executive mansion after traveling to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
A Historian On Where Biden’s Inauguration Fits In History: NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Heather Cox Richardson, an American historian at Boston College, about the historical significance of President Biden’s inauguration.
A Look At Harris’ Busy Inauguration Day: On Wednesday, Kamala Harris was sworn in as the country’s first female, Black, Asian American vice president. NPR follows her on Inauguration Day.
For 1st Time In 150 Years, Outgoing President Doesn’t Attend Inauguration: Former President Donald Trump skipped Wednesday’s inauguration, defying a long-lasting tradition. He held his own farewell ceremony before going to Florida.
Sen. Coons On How New Administration Plans To Work With Congress: NPR’s Ari Shapiro talks with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., about the work ahead for President Biden and plans for working with the new Congress on the president’s agenda.
A Look At The Transition Of Power On Capitol Hill: The inauguration wasn’t the only transition of power that took place on Wednesday. Vice President Harris was to swear in new senators from Georgia, giving Democrats control of the chamber.
During Inaugural Address, Biden Calls For Unity Amid Multiple National Crises: In his inaugural address, President Biden urged Americans to come together to move past the multiple crises facing — and, in some cases, dividing — the nation.
A Jesuit Priest On How Faith Informs Biden’s Leadership: NPR’s Ari Shapiro talks with the Rev. James Martin, a writer and Jesuit priest, about President Biden’s inaugural address and the role that faith has played in his personal and political life.
Newly Elected GOP Congresswoman On Biden’s Presidential Agenda: NPR’s Ari Shapiro speaks with newly elected Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., about President Biden’s speech and what parts of his agenda she can get behind.
Biden Expected To Sign Flurry Of Day 1 Executive Orders: Drawing on his campaign promise to take action from Day 1 in office, President Biden is set to sign a slew of executive orders Wednesday — including several to reverse Trump administration policies.
Harris Makes History As 1st Woman Of Color To Become Vice President: NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th, about Vice President Harris making history with her inauguration.
In New York, Some Pro-Trump Conservatives Ready For Fresh Start With Biden: In a conservative congressional district in upstate New York, some Trump supporters say they’re ready for a fresh start under President Biden.
Biden And Harris Sworn In At The U.S. Capitol: President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn in Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol under heavy guard. Former President Donald Trump left for Florida before the inauguration.
The Latest On Inauguration Day Events: In his inaugural address, President Biden called for Americans to pull together to move past the crises facing the nation. NPR offers updates on Inauguration Day events.
‘Defend The Truth And Defeat The Lies’: Biden Moves Past Trump’s War On Media: President Biden called for Americans to listen to one another and to disagree on the basis of facts, obliquely invoking the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol as the cost of trafficking in lies.
President Biden Will Extend Student Loan Payment Freeze Through September 30: President Joe Biden plans to ask the Education Department to extend pandemic relief for about 41 million federal student loan borrowers through September 30th.
Special Coverage: Biden’s Inauguration Events: At the U.S. Capitol, Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th president. NPR special coverage includes Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem, swearing in of Biden and Kamala Harris, and Biden’s speech.
Biden Order Blocks Keystone XL Pipeline: This likely means the end of the $8 billion pipeline, a years-long project that would have carried oil sands crude from Alberta, Canada to the American Gulf Coast.
On Inauguration Day, Transfer Of Power Includes Handover Of Twitter Accounts: The Biden-Harris administration is inheriting a slew of institutional Twitter accounts, including @WhiteHouse, @POTUS, @VP, @FLOTUS, @PressSec and a brand-new one: @SecondGentleman.
Biden Adviser Sees Local Answers To Boosting Mask Use, Speeding Up Vaccinations: For two of the biggest obstacles to curbing the pandemic, it won’t just be federal officials who will lead the way, says Dr. Celine Gounder, a member of Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board.
World Leaders Express Hope As Joe Biden Is Sworn In As President: Leaders, former officials and citizens expressed optimism with the dawn of the new U.S. administration. China’s state news agency tweeted: “Good Riddance, Donald Trump!”
Biden Celebrates ‘Triumph’ Of Democracy In Inaugural Address: President Biden on Wednesday spoke to bringing the nation together in his first remarks as president of the United States.
‘The New Dawn Blooms’: Poet Amanda Gorman Recites ‘The Hill We Climb’: The 22-year-old composed a poem that acknowledges the recent insurrection attempt, but turns toward hope. America “isn’t broken but simply unfinished,” she said.
Inauguration Fashion Puts Spotlight On American Designers, Women’s Suffrage: The fashion choices represent a return to elevating American-made designs, and lift up both young designers and two designers of color.
Firefighter Leads The Pledge Of Allegiance, Spoken And In Sign Language: Andrea Hall, a firefighter and union leader from Georgia, recited the Pledge of Allegiance during President Biden’s inauguration.
WATCH: Biden Takes The Oath Of Office: Just before noon, Joe Biden was sworn in as the nation’s 46th chief executive on West Front of the Capitol on the same stage that was stormed by insurrectionists two weeks earlier.
Vice President Kamala Harris Takes The Oath Of Office: Harris has officially become the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to be vice president.
Officer Who Confronted Capitol Mob Is Escorting Kamala Harris To Inaugural Ceremony: Officer Eugene Goodman is credited with averting further bloodshed during the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Listen Live: Inauguration Day Special Coverage: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are becoming president and vice president of the United States on Wednesday. Follow the events beginning at 8 a.m. PT.
In D.C., A Traditional South Indian Welcome Awaits Joe Biden And Kamala Harris: With 1,800 pieces submitted by the public, volunteers are putting together a kolam, a traditional South Indian art form used as a sign of welcome.
Biden To End Trump Census Policy, Ensuring All Persons Living In U.S. Are Counted: President-elect Joe Biden is set to reverse Trump’s policy of excluding unauthorized immigrants from a key count that the Constitution says must include the “whole number of persons in each state.”
No Large Protests In D.C., On Morning Of Biden’s Inauguration: Some 25,000 National Guard members are in the city where insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol just two weeks ago.
Biden Prepares For Inauguration Speech And Workday: President-elect Biden prepares to be inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president. His team confirms this is a working day for him. He’ll sign a range of executive orders after he takes the oath of office.
Biden Attends Mass Before His Swearing In As Nation’s 2nd Roman Catholic President: The president-elect was joined by Vice President-elect Harris and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.
Trump Heads To Florida, Won’t Attend Biden Inauguration: When President Trump left the White House, he stopped by and spoke to reporters. He did not take any questions but he did thank the press. Trump later addressed supporters at Joint Base Andrews.
Trump Leaves White House, Biden Prepares For Swearing In: When President Trump left Washington aboard Air Force One, he only had a few hours left in office. At noon, he will again be a private citizen when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.
Nearly 200,000 Flags On National Mall Represent Those Who Cannot Attend Inauguration: The flags represent people from all 50 states, the five U.S. territories and Washington, D.C., who cannot attend because of the coronavirus pandemic and tight security in the nation’s capital.
Trump Leaves White House For The Last Time As 45th President: NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to members of the NPR politics team — Tamara Keith, Ron Elving, Scott Detrow and Franco Ordoñez — about Trump’s departure, which caps a tumultuous four years in office.
Trump Departs White House, With Capitol Riot Defining His Tumultuous Term: President Trump was impeached for inciting his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol. The violence and its aftermath will be an enduring symbol of his four years in the White House.
Mich. Gov. Whitmer: Biden, Harris Are The Right People At The Right Time: NPR’s Steve Inskeep and Scott Detrow talk to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, about Joe Biden’s inaugural message of unity, and the divisions his team faces.
Biden Takes The Oath On Same Stage Where Rioters Swarmed U.S. Capitol: Precisely at 9 a.m. ET, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the nation’s 46th president. Chief Justice Roberts will lead Biden through the oath of office. Security concerns and the pandemic have altered events.
Trump Revokes Administration Ethics Rules On His Way Out The Door: Members of the Trump administration won’t have to wait five years before lobbying the agencies where they worked. Trump had been highly critical of former President Clinton for a similar reversal.
Biden Says He Wants To Unite America. He Might Find Unity Hard To Come By: As Joe Biden is inaugurated, he is hoping to bring America together. But the country’s modern divisions didn’t begin and end with Trump.
Trump Baby Blimp Will Be On Display At British Museum: The Museum of London has acquired the famous Trump Baby Balloon, portraying the 45th president as a diaper wearing baby. Matthew Bonner made it ahead of Trump’s first visit to London as president.
Photos: Historic Inauguration Will Not Look Like The Past: Large crowds and parades have become hallmarks of presidential inaugurations but will be absent this year because of the pandemic and security concerns. Here’s a look back at earlier inaugural events.
Biden Becomes President A Year After 1st Confirmed U.S. COVID-19 Case: Since the first case, 400,000 people in the U.S. have died. NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to Dr. Celine Gounder, a member of Biden’s COVID-19 task force, about the administration’s pandemic priorities.
Flurry Of Activity Comes Amid Trump’s Final Hours In The Presidency: Trump took advantage of powers of his office for a final time. He issued clemency to scores of people, including ex-adviser Steve Bannon, and ordered documents around the Russia probe declassified.
Climate Change Concerns Prompt Americans To Consider Relocating: As climate impacts worsen, some people are moving to other parts of the country that they hope won’t suffer as much. Town planners in New Hampshire are already preparing for a possible influx.
News Brief: Inauguration Day, Trump Issues Pardons, COVID-19 Variant: Joe Biden will be sworn in as the nation’s 46th president. President Trump will not participate in the inauguration. Scientists worry a variant of COVID-19 is contributing to California’s surge.
Here’s What Biden Plans To Do In His 1st Day As President: When he gets into the Oval Office, President- elect Joe Biden plans to sign 17 executive actions on priorities like COVID-19, climate, racial justice — and rolling back Trump rules.
Biden’s Inaugural Address, Annotated: Joe Biden gives his first address to the nation as president. NPR reporters from across the newsroom are providing live fact checks and analysis of the remarks.
On Immigration, Biden Goes Big In Opening Bid To Congress: Biden will send Congress a proposal that would protect millions of people from deportation, marking a dramatic turn from President Trump’s hardline immigration tack.
President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.
Patrick Semansky / AP
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