Notable moments from Biden’s inauguration

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There is, after all, dramatically heightened security in Washington, DC, and a swirling pandemic, not to mention the absence of the outgoing president, the first time this has happened in over a century and a half.

It was a day steeped in history and filled with unforgettable moments. Here’s a look at some of the highlights so far:

Although former President Donald Trump did not attend Biden’s swearing-in ceremony, he has been seen publicly on several occasions, most notably when he left the White House as president for the last little time. after 8 a.m. ET.

Before boarding Marine One with the former first lady, Trump told reporters at the White House it was a “great honor” to be the 45th President of the United States before saying goodbye.

Trump speaks at Joint Base Andrews before heading to Florida

Trump also held a final farewell ceremony, during which he and former First Lady Melania Trump delivered remarks.

The former president thanked his family and his chief of staff and promised to “always fight”. He also wished the new Biden administration “good luck”, although he did not mention his successor by name.

Melania Trump, meanwhile, told attendees that “being your first lady is my greatest honor.” The pair then boarded Air Force One for the last time just before 9 a.m., taking the presidential plane to their Florida home.

Biden attends church

Right after the Trumps boarded Air Force One, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden headed to St. Matthew the Apostle’s Cathedral in Washington, where they attended mass with their family, Vice -President Kamala Harris and his family. They were joined by Congress leaders from both parties.

New presidents typically attend services on the morning of their inauguration, often at St. John’s Episcopal Church, a small church across from Lafayette Square from the White House known as the “Church of Presidents.”

Biden arrives at the Capitol

Biden arrived at the U.S. 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 stadium, he greeted his predecessor and former boss, former President Barack Obama, on 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 Obama, first shock

As she made her way to her seat on the inaugural stage, Harris shared two punches with Obama.

The gesture, exchanged shortly before Harris was sworn in as vice president, carried symbolic weight as Obama and Harris made history as the first African Americans to serve as president and of vice-president.

Harris also hit Michelle Obama, who made history as the country’s African American first lady.

Harris is sworn in as vice president

Harris was sworn in at 11:42 am She used two Bibles during the oath, which was administered by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Harris officially became the first woman, the first black and the first South Asian vice president at noon.

Biden is sworn in as 46th president

Biden was sworn in at 11:48 a.m., using a valuable 19th-century family Bible kept by Jill Biden. The oath was administered by Chief Justice John Roberts.

After being sworn in, Biden delivered an inaugural address in which he called for unity and pledged to be a “president for all Americans,” including those who did not support his campaign during his inauguration speech.

The president also offered a warning in his remarks, describing the nation as going through a “perilous winter” amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Singers and poet play

The inauguration also featured several celebrity performances, including a performance of the national anthem by Lady Gaga. 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 country’s first young poet laureate, also delivered a poem in which she challenged Americans to “leave behind a better country than we have left” and to unite.

Pence and Harris share a laugh

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who attended the ceremony even though Trump did not, was greeted with bipartisan applause as he and his wife, Karen Pence, stepped out to the inaugural stands earlier Wednesday .

Later, as Harris and Emhoff said their farewells to the Pences outside the Capitol, the two couples burst into laughter as the Pences began their private lives.

Biden signs first presidential documents

Biden signed three documents after the ceremony outside of Capitol Hill, including an opening day proclamation, Cabinet appointments, and Deputy Cabinet appointments.

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 Senator Amy Klobuchar presented Biden and Harris with Lenox crystal vases, while House of Commons Speaker Nancy Pelosi and current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell presented to the President and Vice President of American Flags.

Biden and Harris attend wreath laying in Arlington

Biden and Harris walked 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 inaugural parade

Biden and his family walked out of the presidential motorcade to walk down the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House. The President stopped a few times to greet people along the route, including Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and NBC’s Al Roker.

The Bidens enter the White House

Shortly before 4 p.m., Biden entered the White House for the first time as the 46th Commander-in-Chief. He and the first lady paused for a while on the north portico as “Hail to the Chief” played.

They hugged each other, waved to cameras and walked alongside their extended family into the Grand Foyer to begin his presidency.

Harris swears to new Democratic senators

Harris returned to Capitol Hill to swear in three new Democratic senators: Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and Alex Padilla of California, who replaced Harris in the chamber.

Their swearing-in officially gave Democrats control of the Senate for the first time since losing the chamber in 2014. Harris will wield power as the deciding Senate vote.

Biden targets Trump legacy with early executive action

Biden got to work in the White House later Wednesday, finalizing more than a dozen executive decisions by signing a flurry of executive orders, memoranda and directives to agencies.

“There’s no time to start like today,” Biden told reporters in the Oval Office as he began signing a stack of orders and memoranda. “I will start by keeping the promises I made to the American people.”

This story was updated with additional developments on Wednesday.

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.

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