Biden and Harris Possession: Highlights 3:01
(CNN) -
President Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday looked a bit different than previous ceremonies that ushered in a new government.
The historical events of the day were marked by reinforced security measures in Washington, precautions by the covid-19 and the absence of the outgoing president, the first time this has occurred in more than a century and a half.
Still, the unprecedented day ended with fireworks and messages of unity and hope.
Here are the highlights from the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States:
Trump leaves the White House
The moment Trump and Melania left the White House 6:37
Although former President Donald Trump did not attend Biden's swearing-in ceremony, he was seen publicly several times, including when he last left the White House as president shortly after 8 a.m. ET.
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Before boarding Marine One with the former first lady, Trump told reporters at the White House before saying goodbye that it was a "great honor" to have served as the 45th president of the United States.
Trump Speaks at Joint Base Andrews Before Heading to Florida
Trump: We'll be back somehow 12:46
Trump also held a final farewell ceremony, where both he and former first lady Melania Trump spoke.
The former president thanked his family and his secretary general, and promised to "always fight."
He also wished the incoming Biden administration "good luck", though he did not mention his successor by name.
LEE: Trump's lonely departure
Melania Trump, meanwhile, told attendees: "Being your first lady was my greatest honor."
The two then boarded Air Force One for the last time just before 9 a.m., taking the presidential plane to fly home to Florida.
Biden attends church prior to inauguration
Right after the Trumps boarded Air Force One, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden headed to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, where they attended Mass with their family, Vice President Kamala Harris and her family.
They were joined by congressional leaders from both parties.
Incoming presidents typically attend services on the morning of their inauguration, often at St. John's Episcopal Church, a small church across Lafayette Square from the White House known as "Presidents' Church. ».
Biden arrives at the Capitol
Biden arrived at the United States Capitol shortly after 11 a.m. and Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, accompanied him and Jill Biden up the steps of the iconic building.
When Biden arrived at the inauguration scene, he greeted his predecessor and former boss, former President Barack Obama, as he made his way to his seat.
He received a long standing ovation from those gathered on stage and sat down at 11:19 a.m.
Harris and Biden's fist clash at the inauguration
As he walked to his seat on the inauguration stage, Harris and Obama greeted each other with fist bumps.
The gesture, exchanged shortly before Harris took office as vice president, carried symbolic weight as Obama and Harris made history as the first African-Americans to serve as president and vice president, respectively.
Harris similarly greeted Michelle Obama, who made history as the country's first African-American first lady.
Harris sworn in as vice president
Kamala Harris sworn in as US Vice President 2:38
Harris was sworn in at 11:42 am He used two Bibles during the oath, which was taken from him by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
READ: ANALYSIS |
The powerful duality of the rise of Kamala Harris
Harris officially became the first woman, first black, and first person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president at noon.
Biden sworn in as the 46th president
This is how Biden swore as president of the United States 2:16
Biden completed his oath of office at 11:48 a.m., using a treasured family Bible dating from the 19th century and held by Jill Biden.
He was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.
After being sworn in, Biden delivered a speech calling for unity and vowing to be a "President for all Americans," including those who did not support his campaign.
The president also offered a warning in his comments, stating that the nation is going through a "dangerous winter" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Performance of singers and poet at the inauguration
J Lo's performance at the inauguration 3:03
The inauguration also featured several celebrity performances.
Lady Gaga performed the national anthem.
Jennifer Lopez sang a medley of American musical selections including "This Land is your Land" and "America the Beautiful," and Garth Brooks performed "Amazing Grace."
Amanda Gorman, the nation's first young poet laureate, also delivered a poem in which she challenged Americans to "leave behind a better country than the one they left us" and come together.
Pence and Harris laugh together
(Credit: Melina Mara - Pool / Getty Images)
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who attended the ceremony even though Trump did not, was greeted with applause from both parties as he and his wife, Karen Pence, stepped into the stands early Wednesday.
Later, when Harris and Emhoff said goodbye to the Pences outside the Capitol, the two couples laughed as the Pences began their private lives.
Biden signs the first presidential documents
Biden signed three documents after the ceremony ended outside the Capitol, including an Inauguration Day Proclamation, appointments to cabinet positions and senior positions outside of Cabinet.
Biden and Harris receive gifts from Congress
The president and vice president also received gifts from Congress, as usual, including a painting of a black Civil War painter presented to Biden by Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri.
Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar presented Biden and Harris with Lenox glass vases, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and now-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell presented the President and the vice president american flags.
Biden and Harris attend Arlington Wreath Laying
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participate in the offering ceremony.
(Credit: Evan Vucci / AP)
Biden and Harris went from the Capitol to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony with three former presidents, Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Biden walks in the parade to the White House
Biden stops to speak to a person on his way to the White House.
(Credit: Maddie McGarvey for CNN)
Biden and his family exited the presidential motorcade to walk the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House.
The president stopped several times to greet people along the route, including Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and NBC's Al Roker.
The Bidens enter the White House
This was the arrival of Joe Biden arrives at the White House 3:57
Shortly before 4 pm, Biden entered the White House for the first time as the 46th commander-in-chief.
He and the first lady paused on the north portico as "Hail to the Chief" sounded.
They hugged, waved to the cameras and walked with their family into the great hall to begin their presidency.
Harris swears in new Democratic senators
(Credit: Senate television)
Harris returned to the Capitol to swear in three new Democratic senators: Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Alex Padilla of California, who replaced Harris on the House.
His oath officially gave Democrats control of the Senate for the first time since they lost the chamber in 2014. Harris will have the deciding vote in the Senate runoff.
Harris laughed as he read a line that made reference to his own resignation from the Senate as part of the swearing-in.
"The president presents two election certificates and a certificate of appointment to the Senate to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Senator Kamala D. Harris of California," Harris said.
"Yes, that was very strange."
Biden begins reversing Trump's legacy with early executive action after inauguration
These are the first decrees of Joe Biden 2:19
Biden went to work in the White House on Wednesday, finalizing more than a dozen executive moves through the signing of a series of executive orders, memos and directives for agencies.
LEE: Biden signs key decrees regarding the pandemic, immigration and equity and begins to reverse Trump's actions
"There is no (better) time to start than today," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office as he began to sign a stack of decrees and memoranda.
"I'm going to start by keeping the promises I made to the American people," he added.
Biden advises staff not to tolerate disrespect
This is what Biden said to the new White House employees 0:40
Biden warned the new White House employees during an oath ceremony that he would fire them if he found them mistreating each other.
By making explicit that he seeks to end the toxic environment that permeated the West Wing during the previous administration, Biden said he wants his staff to be guided by camaraderie and respect.
"If you are ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague disrespecting him, speaking ill of someone, I will fire you on the spot," Biden said in the State Dining Room during an oath ceremony to officials.
The press secretary promises to defend transparency and honesty
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during her first press conference at the White House on Wednesday, January 20.
(Credit: AP Photo / Evan Vucci)
White House press secretary Jen Psaki began her tenure with the administration's first press conference Wednesday night and vowed to return to fact-based briefings.
Psaki said that, by accepting the job, he vowed to "bring truth and transparency back to the meeting room."
And he continued: “There will be times when we will see things differently in this room.
I mean, between all of us.
That's fine.
That is part of our democracy.
And rebuilding trust with the American people will be central to our focus in the press office and in the White House.
Biden Reiterates His Call For Unity During 'Celebrating America' Inauguration Special
President Joe Biden: America depends on us all 1:48
Standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Biden reiterated his call for unity Wednesday night during a speech at the "Celebrating America" inauguration special, prime time.
READ: ANALYSIS: This is what the US needs today from Joe Biden
«It is sobering to be here in this place in front of these sacred words.
Instructive out of respect for President Lincoln and the office we now share and instructive for you, the American people, ”he said.
"As I said today, we have learned again that democracy is precious and thanks to you democracy has prevailed," he added.
The star-studded 90-minute program began with a performance by Bruce Springsteen of his song "Land of Hope and Dreams."
The special, hosted by Tom Hanks, also featured performances by Jon Bon Jovi, who campaigned with Biden in Pennsylvania, John Legend, Foo Fighters, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons.
Harris highlights 'American aspiration'
Kamala Harris' first statements as vice president 0:52
In her first remarks to the nation as vice president, Harris highlighted America's aspiration during the special inauguration program.
“This moment embodies our character as a nation.
Show who we are, even in dark times.
We don't just dream, we do.
We not only see what has been, we see what can be.
We point to the moon and then we plant our flag on it, ”he said.
“We are bold, fearless and ambitious.
We are not intimidated in our belief that we will win, that we will rise.
This is the American aspiration, "he added.
Former Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton honor Biden as America's new leader
Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
(Credit: Biden Inaugural Committee)
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton honored Biden as the new leader of the United States while echoing his message of unity.
In a video message recorded Wednesday afternoon as part of the "Celebrating America" show, the trio wished Biden the best as he entered the White House.
«The United States is a generous country, with people with great hearts.
The three of us were fortunate to be presidents of this country, "he added, and then said," Mr. President, I hope you succeed.
Your success is the success of our country.
God bless you".
"I think the fact that the three of us are here talking about a peaceful transfer of power speaks to the institutional integrity of our country," Bush said.
Obama delivered a similar message of unity, saying, "We have to listen not only to the people we agree with, but also to the people we disagree with."
"One of my fondest memories of the inauguration was the grace and generosity that President Bush showed me and that Laura Bush showed Michelle," he said.
Clinton, meanwhile, said the nation was "ready to march" with Biden.
«Today he has spoken for us.
Now he will lead for us, "he added.
Fireworks over the nation's capital to close the day of inauguration
(Credit: PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images)
An unprecedented day came to an end with impressive fireworks.
The president and first lady viewed the exhibit from the balcony of the Blue Room on the South Lawn of the White House.
The vice president and her husband watched her from the Lincoln Memorial as singer Katy Perry performed her song "Firework."
CNN's Meg Wagner, Melissa Mahtani, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Veronica Rocha, Fernando Alfonso III, Chandelis Duster, Alex Rogers, Eric Bradner, Betsy Klein, and Christopher Hickey contributed to this report.
