This Wednesday, January 20, 2021, the 46th president of the United States of America was sworn into office. But events leading up to the inauguration were not as smooth as the inauguration itself, with the capital being invaded and President Donald Trump refusing to concede, it has been a stressful couple of weeks. Hopefully, 2021 will start looking up after this rough start to the new year.

On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, the presidential election occurred, and Vice President Joseph Biden emerged victorious with 306 electoral votes. He was sworn in on the 20th, becoming the 46th president of the United States. Former Senator of California, Kamala Harris, was sworn in as the Vice President on the 20th, making history become the first woman and the first black Vice President of the United States. The theme for the inauguration was “Unity”. Considering the circumstances of the nation, the two parties fighting with each other, it was fitting. Biden remarked during his inauguration speech, “Unity. In another January on New Year’s Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper the president said, and I quote, ‘if my name ever goes down in history, it’ll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it’.”

He continued saying, “My whole soul is in it today, on this January day. My whole soul is in this. Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the foes we face – anger, resentment and hatred. Extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness, and hopelessness.” And Biden has already taken action in unifying America, signing over 15 executive orders on his first day in office.

After Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn into office, she swore in the newly elected senators who included Tennessee Republican Bill Hagerty, Colorado Democrat John Hickenlooper, New Mexico Democrat Ben Ray Lujan, Wyoming Republican Cynthia Lummis, Kansas Republican Roger Marshall, Alabama Republican Tommy Tuberville and Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was narrowly re-elected speaker of the house. After the Inauguration was over, the Inaugural Parade took place, it was much smaller than usual, due to the Covid-19 distancing restrictions, but still memorable, nonetheless. The inauguration was small, with social distancing and mandatory masks in defense of COVID-19, but with lots of familiar faces. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, Tom Hanks, Bernie Sanders, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush all made an appearance. During a conversation between the three former presidents, Obama stated, “it was the grace and generosity that President Bush showed me, and Laura Bush showed Michelle, and it was a reminder that we can have fierce disagreements and yet recognize each other’s common humanity and that as Americans we have more in common than what separates us.” in response to the theme of American unity.

Joe Biden has big plans for our future, and all we can do is hope he does the best he can, and improve our country bit by bit. His presidency will affect everyone here at AHS, and we hope he will pave the way for our future so that we can achieve our dreams in the great country we call America.