In his first remarks as president, Biden said his swearing-in marks a day of “history and hope,” and that the country has “learned again that democracy is precious”
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the US by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. Pic/AP
On Wednesday, Joe Biden swore in as the 46th president of the United States, and Kamala Harris as the nation’s first female vice president. In his first remarks as president, Biden said his swearing-in marks a day of “history and hope,” and that the country has “learned again that democracy is precious.” He added, “The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.”
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With their swearing in, the new administration set upon a path to undo the damage done by Donald Trump who left behind a legacy of chaos and tumult and a nation bitterly divided. Biden’s aides on Tuesday said that the 78-year-old, in his opening hours as president, will strike at the heart of Trump’s policy legacy, signing a series of executive actions that reverse his predecessor’s orders on immigration, climate change and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden will end construction on Trump’s US-Mexico border wall, end the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoke the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, aides added. The new president will sign the orders almost immediately after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda.
The 15 executive actions are an attempt to essentially rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office - and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating coronavirus pandemic, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his predecessor.
These actions will be followed by dozens more in the next 10 days, aides said. Jen Psaki, the incoming White House press secretary, said on Tuesday that the actions to be taken on Wednesday were focused on providing “immediate relief” to Americans. Biden will sign the actions during his first visit to the Oval Office in four years.
‘US free of tyrant’
Ursula von der Leyen, president, European Commission
‘This new dawn in America is the moment we’ve been awaiting for so long... once again after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House. The United States are back, and Europe stands ready
to reconnect with an old and trusted partner to breathe new life into our cherished alliance’
Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s President
‘A tyrant’s era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign... Someone for whom all of his four years bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own
people and the world’
15
No. of executive actions Biden will take on Day 1
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