Biden inauguration in pictures

21 January 2021

Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th US President - here are some of the best photos from inauguration day.

US President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, after his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, 20 January 2021. — Image caption,
President Biden set to work at the Oval Office having been sworn in earlier on Wednesday at the US Capitol. In his initial acts as the 46th US president, he signed 15 executive orders - the first to boost the federal response to the coronavirus crisis

Katy Perry (foreground) performs amid the fireworks at the Washington Monument at a televised ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. — Image caption,
A star-studded concert marked the beginning of Mr Biden's presidency, with performances from Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and Bon Jovi

US. Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attend a televised ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on 20 January 2021 in Washington, DC. — Image caption,
Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attended the ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch fireworks from the balcony of the White House, at the "Celebrating America" event in this still image from video — Image caption,
Speaking during the televised "Celebrating America" event, President Biden explained that he and Vice-President Kamala Harris "wanted to make sure our inauguration was not about us, but about you the American people"

Fireworks are seen above the White House at the end of the Inauguration day for US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC, on 20 January 2021. — Image caption,
The theme of the concert was not celebration but unity, with tributes paid to the frontline workers who have borne the brunt of the Covid pandemic

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden watch a fireworks show on the National Mall from the Truman Balcony at the White House, 20 January 2021 in Washington — Image caption,
The president and first lady watched the fireworks show on the National Mall from the Truman Balcony at the White House

U.S. President Joe Biden swears in presidential appointees in a virtual ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, after Biden's inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, U.S., 20 January 2021. — Image caption,
President Biden swore in presidential appointees during a virtual ceremony in the Oval Office

President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden wave on the steps of The White House — Image caption,
The President and First Lady Dr Jill Biden waved to supporters before entering The White House

A general view of the Capitol during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., — Image caption,
Mr Biden's inauguration ceremony was restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US President — Image caption,
Mr Biden took his oath on a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was also used each time he was sworn in as Delaware senator. The book itself is five inches (12.5cm) thick with a Celtic cross on the cover

Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice President — Image caption,
Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice-president - the first woman and first black and Asian-American person to serve in this role

U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris greets former President Barack Obama ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, 20 January 2021. — Image caption,
Barack Obama - the country's first black president - exchanged an inauguration day fist bump with Vice President Harris. The moment was celebrated online as a historic passing of the torch between the two political trailblazers

President Biden gives his inaugural speech — Image caption,
After his swearing-in, President Biden gave his inaugural speech, saying: "We learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile and at this moment, my friends, democracy has prevailed"

Amanda Gorman recites a poem during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. — Image caption,
One inauguration performance that enthralled attendees and continues to captivate many across the world on social media was that of 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman. She was the youngest poet to ever perform at a presidential inauguration, calling for "unity and togetherness" in her self-penned poem.

Lady Gaga arrives to perform the National Anthem as President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris watch during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington DC, 20 January 2021. — Image caption,
Lady Gaga led the musical contributions to President Biden's inauguration ceremony, with a bold rendition of the US National Anthem

Jennifer Lopez sings during the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden — Image caption,
Jennifer Lopez also sang a medley of This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful - addressing the crowd in Spanish part way through her performance, declaring: "Una nación indivisible con libertad y justicia para todos" (One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all)

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrive for his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2021. — Image caption,
The inauguration was unlike any other due to coronavirus restrictions, with few present to witness the oaths and ceremonies

President-elect Joe Biden stands alongside Jill Biden — Image caption,
The Bidens pictured as they arrived at the inauguration, on the West Front of the US Capitol

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris waves to the crowd — Image caption,
Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff waved to well-wishers when they arrived. Harris wore purple, a colour traditionally seen in the US as a symbol of bipartisanship - a combination of the blue and red of the Democratic and Republican parties

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the inauguration whilst wearing masks — Image caption,
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were among the guests at the inauguration

Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton walk down steps together to find their seat — Image caption,
Former President Bill Clinton also arrived with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush are shown their seats — Image caption,
Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush were shown to their seats before the swearing-in ceremony

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wave from Air Force One — Image caption,
Ex-President Donald Trump, who snubbed the inauguration ceremony, returned to his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris lay a large wreath together — Image caption,
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris went on to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Members of the military march on 15th Street towards the White House during a Presidential Escort of US President Joe Biden's limousine to the White House, in Washington, DC, USA, 20 January 2021. — Image caption,
Members of the military march on 15th Street towards the White House during a Presidential Escort of the President's limousine to the White House

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, with their spouses — Image caption,
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, with their spouses, were seen looking out over the National Mall, which would normally be filled with supporters if not for the pandemic

The "Field of flags" is seen on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol building ahead of inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden in Washington DC. 20 January 20, 2021. — Image caption,
The National Mall was covered in flags, representing the people who were not able to attend

Troops prepare to exit the Capitol after the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, in Washington DC, 20 January 2021. — Image caption,
Security across Washington was tight with about 25,000 troops on hand following a deadly riot at the Capitol earlier this month

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