2021 inauguration
Dr. Jill Biden looks on as President Joe Biden takes his oath of office on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, minutes before noon.

Inauguration Day 2021: Joe Biden is inaugurated, gives his first speech as the 46th U.S. president

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Hours before Joseph R. Biden would be sworn in as America’s 46th president on Wednesday, thousands of flags swayed and fluttered in darkness on the National Mall. The flags dot the grounds in place of Americans who were unable to travel to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and increased security threats. It was an unusual start to mark a momentous shift in American leadership. Safety concerns have heightened in the days since pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 while lawmakers certified Biden's win in the November 2020 election.