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The US Democrat Joe Biden succeeded Donald Trump as the 46th President of the United States of America in front of the US Capitol on Wednesday.
Kamala Harris was also sworn in as the first female vice president.
After years of unprecedented split under his predecessor Donald Trump, the new President Biden has taken office with a powerful call for unity.
In front of the US Capitol in Washington, he said he wanted to bring the country together with his “whole soul” and “unite the people”.
Biden promised that he would be a "president for all Americans."
Before the oath of office: President Biden (right) climbs the steps of the Capitol with his wife Jill and Vice-President Harris, accompanied by her husband Emhoff (left)
Source: AP / David Tulis
Because as few people as possible should attend the inauguration due to the corona pandemic, American flags were placed in front of the Capitol
Source: AFP / STEPHANIE KEITH
Stars from various directions have contributed the music for the inauguration of the new American President Joe Biden.
Lady Gaga sang the national anthem - with extravagance and passion.
A large dove hung on her shoulder while she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner": a call for peace in a country deeply divided after Donald Trump's presidency four years.
Lady Gaga sang the national anthem with a golden dove on her shoulder - a symbol of the peace that the American people should find after the Trump presidency
Source: REUTERS
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Country singer Garth Brooks put an eventful end to “Amazing Grace,” as he gently urged audiences - the few at the Capitol and the millions at home on the television screens - to sing along to the last verse.
Jennifer Lopez, all in white, continued the thread with Woody Guthrie's “This Land is Your Land” and followed up with “America The Beautiful”.
“Democracy prevailed at this hour,” said Biden in his inaugural address.
But the country is facing another major test.
"There is a lot of work ahead of us and we will need our strength," said Biden, recalling the more than 400,000 compatriots who have died from or with the corona virus.
Curtain up for the new US presidential couple: Joe Biden and his wife Jill
Credit: AFP / PATRICK SEMANSKY
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He also promised to be President of all Americans.
These should come together.
“There is no peace without unity,” said Biden.
He called on all compatriots, and especially all elected politicians, to defend the truth and to defeat lies.
Joe Biden addressed many important topics in his inaugural address: the corona pandemic, the unification of the American people and the fight against untruths
Source: AFP / Rob Carr
For the first time in the history of the United States, a female vice president was sworn in.
Kamala Harris took her oath before Constitutional Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Doug Emhoff holds the Bible for his wife, Kamala Harris, who was sworn in as US Vice President
Source: REUTERS
Despite the ceremony, a day like any other for these two Hispanic men: They watched the event live in a laundromat in Los Angeles
Source: AP / Jae C. Hong
Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama attended the inauguration, but not Biden's immediate predecessor Donald Trump.
The oldest living former US President Jimmy Carter had apologized.
Former President George W. Bush (l.) Spoke to Michelle and Barack Obama as well as Nancy Pelosi (from right), Speaker of the House of Representatives, at the inauguration
Source: AFP / TASOS KATOPODIS
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At 78 years old, Biden is the oldest president in US history.
He was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.
Biden took his oath on his family's 19th-century Bible, which he had sworn by as Vice President.
In 2013, she was held by his late son Beau.
Biden took his oath on his family's 19th-century Bible carried by wife Jill
Source: AFP / ANDREW HARNIK
With a coat and gloves against the cold: US Senator and Democrat Bernie Sanders was celebrated on social networks for his outfit during his inauguration
Source: AFP / TASOS KATOPODIS
A few hours before Biden's inauguration, his predecessor Trump had left Washington.
As announced, he did not take part in the swearing-in ceremony of his successor as the first outgoing president for 152 years.
After being voted out of office, he neither congratulated Biden nor openly admitted his defeat.
Even in his farewell message he did not mention Biden by name, but at least predicted great successes for the successor government - after all, he laid the foundations for it.
Ex-President Donald Trump and his wife Melania are leaving Air Force One at West Palm Beach Airport in Florida - they were not present at Biden's inauguration
Source: AFP / Noam Galai
“It was a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.
The greatest people in the world, the greatest home in the world, "Trump told journalists about his tenure.
"We have achieved a lot."
Donald Trump cruises through Florida
Source: AFP / ADAM DELGIUDICE