Pope tells Biden he prays God will guide reconciliation in US
Pope Francis told USPresident JoeBidenon Wednesday that he was praying that God would guide his efforts to bring reconciliation in the United States and among the nations of the world.
In a message sent shortly after the second Catholic USpresident was sworn in, Francis also said he hopedBidenwould work towards a society marked by true justice, freedom and respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those with no voice.
'They forget that 75 million voted for him:' Trump supporters reject Biden
They were among the almost 75 million Americans who voted for Donald Trump and refuse to recognise JoeBiden's presidential victory as legitimate.
AFP spoke to some Trump supporters about what they think Trump will do next and what they believe life will be like under the new Democratic administration.
"When Trump was inaugurated, I was so happy," said Gia Maxson, a yoga teacher and devout Catholic from Hickory, North Carolina.
"I went to two Trump rallies. They were wonderful, uplifting, positive experiences," she added.
Joe Biden becomes 46th US president, vowing 'new day' after Trump tumult
Joe Biden on Wednesday became the 46th president of the United States, vowing a "new day" for the United States after four years of tumult under Donald Trump who in an extraordinary final act snubbed the inauguration.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a benediction by Reverend Silvester Beaman
Now, there will be an inaugural parade, following which Biden and Harris will have a presidential escort from 15th Street to the White House including the US Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard and the commander in chief's Guard and Fife Drum Corps.
Trump's vice president Pence applauds successor at inauguration
Outgoing USVice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen attended the inauguration of new PresidentJoeBidenon Wednesday after skipping both a farewell ceremony for Donald Trump and the usual protocol of welcoming his successor to his home at the Naval Observatory.
Pence, whom some of Trump's supporters during the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol had threatened to hang for refusing to try to overturnBiden's Electoral College win in Congress, applauded the next vice president, Kamala Harris, as she arrived at the USCapitol. Trump skipped the inauguration.
'New chapter of democracy': Rahul Gandhi congratulates Prez Joe Biden, VP Harris
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated JoeBidenafter he was elected as the 46th president of the US on Wednesday.
Gandhi also congratulated Indian-origin Kamal Harris after she took oath as the 49th vice president of the US, creating history as the first female, first Black and first Indian-American to do so.
“Congratulating the USA on a new chapter of their democracy. Best wishes to PresidentBidenand Vice-President Harris,” Gandhi tweeted.
@POTUS handle wiped clean, starts with 1.1 mn followers
'I can feel our ancestors rejoicing today', says US Senator Cory Booker
National Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman recites a poem, she is the youngest poet to recite at an inaugural address
UK PM Boris Johnson congratulates US Prez Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris
Garth Brooks, a Republican sings 'Amazing Grace'
Biden, in his address, leads moment of silent prayer for victims of coronavirus
VP Venkaiah Naidu congratulates Biden, Harris on being sworn in as Prez, VP of US
Congratulations & best wishes to Joe Biden & Kamala Harris on being sworn in as President & Vice President of USA. India-US ties are based on many shared values & I'm sure that partnership between the two nations will get further cemented in coming years: VP M Venkaiah Naidu
I know forces that divide us are deep & they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between American ideal that we're all created equal & harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonisation have long torn us apart: US President
Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi looks forward to working with Joe Biden
Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation: US President Joe Biden
Biden urges US to "reject" culture of manipulating facts
Kamala Harris tweets after becoming Vice President of the United States
Unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America: Biden
PM Modi congratulates US President Joe Biden
My warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
'Democracy has prevailed', says Biden in his inauguration speech
Today, we celebrate triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, the cause of democracy. People & will of the people have been heard. We have learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile & at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed: US President Joe Biden
Biden says inauguration a day of "history and hope"
“This is a great nation. We are good people,” says Biden referencing the riots
"This is America's day, this is democracy's day," says Biden
Biden takes oath as President of the United States
Kamala Harris becomes the first woman, and the first woman of color to be sworn in as Vice President.
Trump pardons his former real estate lawyer Pirro
President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Albert Pirro on Wednesday, according to a spokesman.
Pirro, 73, who served 11 months on a UStax fraud conviction two decades ago, previously represented Trump as a real estate lawyer and is the former husband of one of Trump's most enthusiastic supporters in the media, Jeanine Pirro of the Fox News show "Justice with Judge Jeanine." The Pirros divorced in 2013.
Reuters
Biden to hit reset on nation's fight against Covid-19 after taking office
Incoming President Joe Biden on Wednesday will immediately reset the nation's response to the Covid-19 crisis after he is sworn in to lead a country reeling from its worst public health crisis in more than a century.
As part of the first sweep of executive actions, Biden will order that all federal employees wear masks and make face coverings mandatory on federal property. He will establish a new White House office to coordinate the coronavirus response and halt the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, a process initiated by the outgoing president, Donald Trump.
Lady Gaga arrives on stage, to sing the national anthem
Joe Biden will be the second Catholic US President ever
Tamil Nadu locals light diyas in Thulasendrapuram, the native village of the mother of Harris
When Harris takes oath, little girls and boys will know that anything is possible and that is America: Klobuchar
Senator Amy Klobuchar begins Inauguration ceremony
This is the day our democracy picks itself up, brushes off the dust, and does what America always does: goes forward as a nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all:Klobuchar
Joe Biden’s family Bible has a long history
When President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office Wednesday, he is likely to place his hand on a familial artifact that has followed him throughout his 50-year political career: a hefty Bible, accented with a Celtic cross, that has been in his family since 1893.
Harris arrives on Capitol platform
Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, have arrived on the Capitol platform for the inauguration.
Kamala Harris' historic inauguration attire designed by two Black designers
Kamala Harris on Wednesday opted to wear a dress designed by two Black designers for her historic inauguration as the US Vice-president.
Her husband and the Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff was wearing a Ralph Lauren suit. In fact, the President-electJoeBidenwas also wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat by the American designer.
Harris, 56, has created history by becoming the first woman, first Black and first Indian-American vice president of the United States.
Unlike every other first lady in American history, Jill Biden has said she will keep her full-time job. “I’m going to continue to teach,” she said in an interview in August. “It’s important — I want people to value teachers.”: NYT
Meanwhile, Donald Trump and wife Melania land in Florida
Kamala Harris’ stepchildren are arriving. This inaugural is historic for Jews as well. Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, is Jewish, the first Jewish person to hold such a high (unelected) office
Former presidents and former first ladies are being introduced at the inauguration
'Grateful to have you with me', Biden thanks wife Jill ahead of inauguration
With US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on the brink of scripting history, her maternal uncle Gopalan Balachandran says he told his niece to keep doing what she does without getting bothered by others.
Republican members of Congress who objected the certification of Biden's election results arrive at the Capitol to attend the inauguration
The inauguration ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden features a lineup of celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Garth Brooks and, singing the national anthem, Lady Gaga
US singer Lady Gaga arrives for the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden at the US Capitol
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris arrive at the US Capitol ahead of swearing-in
The three former presidents attending the inauguration arrive with their spouses: Bill and Hillary Clinton, George and Laura Bush, Barack and Michelle Obama
US Supreme Court is being evacuated due to a bomb threat, reports CNN
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama arrive at the US Capitol for Joe Biden's inauguration
Donald Trump left a letter for Joe Biden: Spokesman
Donald Trump left a letter to his successor Joe Biden before leaving the White House, spokesman Judd Deere told AFP minutes after the outgoing president's departure.
Bidens attend mass in Washington with Republican, Democratic Congress leaders
Greta Thunberg trolls Trump as he departs White House
Obama congratulates Biden ahead of inauguration day
Jennifer Lopez ahead of inauguration day performance
Trump, in departure remarks, says he 'will be back in some form'
US President Donald Trump said he will be "back in some form" before boarding Air Force One for Florida on Wednesday ahead of the inauguration of his successor, Joe Biden.
Biden-Harris's inauguration: All you need to know
After four years of Donald Trump and a hotly-contested election, President-elect Joe Biden, who was formerly vice-president under Barack Obama, is set to take charge as the 46th President of the United States, with his running mate Kamala Harris will take charge as the Vice President in a ceremony marked by Covid-19, an insurrection at the Capitol and a President who only reluctantly acquiesced to a transition of power.
Four years of Donald Trump's presidency in quotes
After four tumultuous years in the office, Donald Trump's tenure as the President of the United States is finally coming to an end. It won't be a travesty to describe his four years in the White House as extremely eventful, as Trump never failed to dish out controversial quotes.
How to watch the 2021 US presidential inauguration
The 59th presidential inauguration will be largely virtual but will still feature a number of ceremonial events and celebrations. Here’s what’s happening and how to watch from home.
Kamala Harris' ancestral village Thulasendrapuram celebrates her inauguration
Residents of the ancestral village of Kamala Harris celebrated her inauguration as US vice president on Wednesday by setting off firecrackers and distributing food.
Theresa May rebukes Boris Johnson as UK welcomes Biden era
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the start of a new UK-US chapter on Wednesday under incoming US President Joe Biden, even as his predecessor Theresa May accused Johnson of “abandoning” the UK's moral leadership in the world during the tumultuous Trump era.
Acting AG Rosen stepping down as Trump administration ends
Acting US Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will step down on Wednesday after temporarily heading the Justice Department and serving as the No. 2 official since May 2019, overseeing its Big Tech probe and other wide-ranging investigations.
Rosen, 62, a former deputy transportation secretary under President Donald Trump who was sworn in as deputy attorney general in May 2019, took the reins of the Justice Department after Bill Barr announced he would step down on Dec. 23.
German president 'greatly relieved' at US change of power
"I am greatly relieved that Joe Biden will beinauguratedas president today and move into the White House," the head of state said.
"I know this feeling is shared by many people in Germany."
Steinmeier said America's institutions had proven their strength in the face of "great tests" and "hostility" during Trump's term.