Inauguration Day 2021: Obama, Bush and Clinton give message to Biden as Oval Office gets a revamp
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Your support makes all the difference.Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton spoke in a taped message during the Celebrating America concert.
“Joe, I'm proud of you,” said Mr Biden’s former boss, Barack Obama.
Mr Biden called for American unity as he spoke at the Lincoln Memorial during a celebration concert.
“It is humbling to stand here in this place in front of these sacred words. Humbling out of respect to President Lincoln and the office we now share and humbling because of you, the American people," he said at the Celebrating America event.
“As I said earlier today, we have learned again that democracy is precious and because of you democracy has prevailed."
His speech came after the Senate confirmed his first cabinet nomination of Avril Haines for director of national intelligence.
Earlier he got to work at the Oval Office of the White House by signing several executive orders after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.
The first order he signed was a federal mask mandate, which would require the face shield on federal property and during interstate travel. His other two executive orders involved revoking Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban and rejoining the Paris Climate Accords.
Vice President Kamala Harris also got straight to work on Wednesday after she was sworn in. She went to the Senate for the swearing in of three Democratic senators.
This all comes after a day filled with inauguration-related events, including Mr Biden and Ms Harris traveling to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama were all in attendance for the events.
Mr Trump, in comparison, broke precedent and left the White House for Mar-a-Lago in Florida without attending the inauguration. The one tradition Mr Trump did participate in was writing a letter to his successor, which was left in a drawer of the Resolute Desk. Mr Biden did not reveal the contents of the letter, but he did say it was "very generous”.
White House press secretary gives first briefing
Jen Psaki gave her first briefing as Joe Biden’s White House press secretary and said, “rebuilding trust with the American people will be central to our focus."
"When the President asked me to serve in this role, we talked about the importance of bringing truth and transparency back to the briefing room," she added.
“There will be times when we see things differently in this room, that is ok, it is part of our democracy,” she said.
Ms Psaki also confirmed that Dr Anthony Fauci would represent the US at a World Health Organisation meeting on Thursday.
She went on to praise the role of journalist and the “power ofthis podium.”
“We have a common goal and that is sharing accurate information with the American people. If the president was here he would say he works for the American people, I work for him and therefore I work for the American people.”
She confirmed that Mr Biden’s first foreign leader call would be with Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau on Friday.
Ms Psaki also said that there was no “imminent plans” for Mr Biden to call and speak to Donald Trump, after his predecessor left him a letter in the Oval Office.
Senate confirms Joe Biden’s first nominee
The Senate has voted to confirm Avril Haines, Mr Biden’s pick for Director of National Intelligence.
Watch White House press secretary Jen Psaki here
Watch Jen Psaki’s first press briefing in the White House live here.
Live: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki holds a briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will take questions at her first on-camera and in-person briefing of the Biden administration.Like us on Facebook: http...
White House press secretary details new Covid rules in building
Jen Psaki told her first media briefing that staff would get daily virus testing in White Hosue, would be wearing N95 masks, and follow “stringent rules” on social distancing in building
“The president has asked us to be models to the American people and that is very important to us as well,” she said.
Jen Psaki completes first White House press briefing
“Thank you everyone, let's do this again tomorrow,” said Ms Psaki as she concluded her first briefing without any major arguments with reporters or storming out of the briefing room.
Senate approves Avril Haines for intelligence chief in first Biden confirmation
Shortly after Joe Biden officially took office, the Senate voted on Wednesday to seat Avril Haines as director of national intelligence, the first Senate confirmation of a nominee from the incoming administration.
The final vote tally was 84-10 for Ms Haines, 51, who previously served as deputy CIA director, deputy national security adviser, and deputy chief counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Josh Marcus has the story.
Senate approves intelligence director in first Biden confirmation
The Biden administration has already begun putting its stamp on the federal government, with executive orders and personnel changes.
Kamala Harris will not move into Naval Observatory immediately
The vice president and her husband will not move into the traditional residence while it undergoes some needed repairs.
Ms Harris owns a home in Washington DC, but it is unclear if she will stay there until the Naval observatory is ready and repair work finished, say CBS News.
The building, which was constructed in 1893 needs to have chimney liners replaces as well as other repairs mpow that Mike Pence has moved out.
Bidens have fired Donald Trump’s White House chief usher
White House chief usher Timothy Harleth has been fired by the Bidens, according to CNN.
Mr Harleth was the former rooms manager at Trump International Hotel DC and hired by Melania Trump in 2017.
He replaced Angella Reid, who was hired during the Obama administration.
Joe Biden calls for American unity in concert speech.
The new president made his plea for the country to come together in an appearance at the Lincoln Memorial during the “Celebrating America” TV special.
“It is humbling to stand here in this place in front of these sacred words. Humbling out of respect to President Lincoln and the office we now share and humbling because of you, the American people," he said.
“As I said earlier today, we have learned again that democracy is precious and because of you democracy has prevailed.
"That's why Jill and I, Kamala and Doug, wanted to make sure our inauguration was not about us but about you, the American people.
"This is a great nation. We're a good people and to overcome the challenges in front of us requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy — unity. It requires us to come together in common love that defines us as Americans."
Doug Emhoff congratulates Kamala Harris in first tweet as second gentleman
"Wife, mother, sister, auntie... and now, Madame Vice President. Today marks an amazing chapter for you, our family, and for our nation. We love you so much," tweeted Mr Emhoff.
Ms Harris has made history as she became the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president.
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