Joe Biden just took the oath of office. He was sworn in by Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.
At noon ET, Biden will officially become the 46th president of the United States.
His Vice, Kamala Harris has also taken the oath of office.
At noon ET, Harris will officially become the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president.
She was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Biden, 78, will become the oldest US president in history at a scaled-back ceremony in Washington that has been largely stripped of its usual pomp and circumstance, due both to the coronavirus as well as security concerns following the January 6 assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. His running mate, Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, will become the first Black person, first woman, and first Asian American to serve as vice president. Biden and Harris will take the oath of office, following which the new president will deliver his inaugural speech laying down the vision of his administration.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump walked out of the White House for one last on Wednesday and headed to Florida, giving a miss to the inauguration event of Joe Biden where he will take oath as the 46th president of the United States. In his final remarks before leaving the White House, Trump said, “We love the American people and again it has been something very special. And I just want to say goodbye, but hopefully it’s not a long term goodbye. We’ll see each other again.”
Earlier, in his farewell address to the nation Tuesday, Donald Trump extended his wishes to the Biden administration. “This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous,” Trump said. “I did not seek the easiest course… By far, it was actually the most difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices, because that’s what you elected me to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus,” he added.
