President-elect Joe Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris were sworn in on Capitol Hill shortly before noon on Wednesday in the presence of former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Donald Trump, who left the White House directly for Florida a few hours earlier, did not attend the ceremony, a first for 150 years in American history.
However, he left a letter in the Oval Office for his successor, as tradition dictates.
Its vice-president Mike Pence was present in the gallery.
Joe Biden, 78, was invested 46th President of the United States during an unprecedented ceremony, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Two weeks to the day after the assault on the Capitol by supporters of the outgoing president, the capital Washington was barricaded, under high military guard.
The President-elect and Kamala Harris were sworn in on the grandstand in front of only a few guests.
Due to sanitary measures, the vast esplanade of the “National Mall” could not be opened to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who traditionally gather every four years for the inauguration of the president.
Former Democratic President Barack Obama was one of the first to arrive, along with his wife Michelle Obama, as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton.
In the galleries also crowded parliamentarians, including some who remained loyal allies of Donald Trump until the last days of his mandate, such as Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz.
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1. An assembly of personalities but not of the public for reasons of health and safety.
Jim Bourg / REUTERS
2. The President, his Vice President and their respective spouses on the steps where, two weeks earlier, violence from Trump supporters broke out.
Mike Segar / REUTERS
3. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence and his wife present for the transition of power, but not Donald and Melania Trump.
Jonathan Ernst / Pool / REUTERS
4. An unprecedented deployment of forces around Capitol Hill and throughout Washington.
Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS
5. The national anthem "Star Spangled Banner" was performed by Lady Gaga.
Brendan McDermid / REUTERS
6. Kamala Harris, First Vice President of American History, is sworn in under the watchful eye of her husband, lawyer Doug Emhoff.
Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
7. Joe Biden is sworn in and, at 78, becomes the oldest president to enter the White House, watched by his son Hunter and his wife, Melissa.
Jim Bourg / REUTERS
8. On the Esplanade du Capitole, thousands of flags but no public to attend the taking of the oath.
Jim Bourg / REUTERS
9. The new First Lady, Jill Biden, 69, returns to the White House after eight years of the Obama presidency.
Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
10. Radiant Kamala Harris as her husband congratulates her.
Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS
11. On the benches of personalities, social distancing and the mask of rigor.
REUTERS
12. Jennifer Lopez invited to sing on the podium "This Land is your Land", famous folk song by Woody Guthrie.
Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS
13. Country singer Garth Brooks, who came to perform "Amazing Grace", greets former First Lady Laura Bush.
Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS
14. Barack Obama happy for his friend Joe Biden and happy for Kamala Harris.
Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS
15. The Biden couple leave the Capitol, towards the White House.
Jim Bourg / REUTERS