Yahoo Finance Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Attend Virtual Inaugural Prayer Service with Their Spouses
Joe Biden And Kamala Harris Make History On Inauguration Day 2021
Joe Biden's first day as president was full of traditional ceremonies and events in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff remotely attended the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service on Thursday, which went virtual for the first time ever due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The annual service, which dates back to the inauguration of President George Washington, was hosted and streamed live by The Washington National Cathedral.
Josh Groban, Patti LaBelle and The Clark Sisters all performed at the service. Additionally, William J. Barber II delivered the homily with presiding Bishop Michael Curry giving the final blessing.
"The National Prayer Service is an important tradition for our nation and for President Biden, who has always been a man guided deeply by his faith," Delaware State University President Tony Allen, the chief executive of the inaugural committee, said in a statement. "The program announced today will honor the role of faith in our country, and provide a moment to reflect on the unprecedented challenges we face, as we enter this new American chapter of healing to beat the pandemic, build back our economy better, and unify our country."
Also joining the president for the virtual event was his granddaughter Finnegan Biden, according to a pool report.
Later Thursday, Biden is scheduled to give a speech about his administration's COVID-19 strategy as well as "sign executive orders and other presidential actions" related to the pandemic, the White House says. Harris will be in attendance
WATCH NOW: Join us for the virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service with President Joe Biden, hosted by the Washington National Cathedral. #Inauguration2021 https://t.co/XHIbsCURHV
— Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) January 21, 2021
Alex Wong/Getty
On Wednesday, Biden was officially sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. The ceremony at the U.S. Capitol also included the historic swearing-in of Vice President Harris, 56, performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks, a powerful poem from Amanda Gorman and an inaugural address from Biden urging unity in the wake of deadly rioting by Donald Trump supporters two weeks ago.
"This is America's day. This is democracy's day," Biden said, speaking to the nation for the first time as president and calling for the country to "start afresh."
The swearing-ceremony was followed by a military salute, wreath-laying ceremony and parade in which Biden, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, along with their children and grandchildren, abandoned their armored motorcade to walk the final stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House driveway.
The day ended with a fireworks display over the White House, which Biden watched alongside his wife and their extended family.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris
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Biden also wasted no time getting to his work once in the White House, signing several executive orders with the goal of reversing many of Trump's policies.
Harris, meanwhile, returned to the Capitol to swear in new Sens. Jon Ossoff, Rev. Raphael Warnock and Alex Padilla, who is taking her seat in California.