INAUGURATION DAY 2021 SPECIAL

Wow. Where to start when so much history is being written within one day. Perhaps with the fact that it snowed a little in the morning. However, right on time, almost symbolically, the gloomy clouds disappeared. They cleared the way for a bright blue sky and for the sun, which illuminated the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.

After four gloomy years that put the US to the test, in which the country was divided like never before, the sunshine also reflected the joy of everyone present and their hope for better times.

It was a special day, on which the oldest president of the United States to date to take office would swear his oath. It was also the day of Kamala Harris. She is the first black and South Asian, and most importantly female, vice president in the country’s history, in office.

Both build a strong team. While Kamala Harris impresses with her youth, energy, and dynamism, Biden, despite all prophecies of doom, creates a perfect balance through his calm, empathy, understanding, and his experience of over 50 years in American politics.

Together, they radiated this energy for the world to see during the Inauguration Ceremony.

After long weeks in which his predecessor refused to admit that the USA is a country shaped by an unbreakable democracy, Joe Biden spent the night in the White House guest house.

THE EVENING BEFORE

The evening before, he and Kamala Harris honored the 400,000 victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. Four hundred lanterns symbolized the victims. They were placed alongside the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

After the moving speeches by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Yolanda Adams performed the song Hallelujah. At the same time, buildings across the country were illuminated in a special light to honor the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic.

THE INAUGURATION DAY

Trump’s disappearance

The new day began like the past four years have gone by. Completely unreasonable, Donald Trump once again praised himself in the highest tones when he left the White House. No one in the world manages to put more superlatives into one sentence – in the case of Trump more of a half-sentence – than the 45th President of the United States.

Rather disrespectfully, he took the right to disappear, or rather to flee one last time with Air Force One to his new domicile in Florida.

Trump therefore once again broke with time-honored traditions and did not take part in the inauguration of Joe Biden.

His daughter Ivanka had announced that she wanted to accept the invitation, which, of course, made Trump stand on end with his extremely questionable hairstyle. In the end, Ivanka didn’t appear at the ceremony.

In return, Mike Pence showed dignity and honor and appeared on the terrace of the Capitol in honor of his successor and the new President.

Through his appearance, he underlined that he has broken with Trump and that the party is not Trump. For too long the party has helped a dictator to power.

It’s time for introspection, to reflect and to find new ways and finally to treat them. The world is changing. One is only strong together.

For four years a splitter ruled the most powerful country in the world, an egomaniac characterized by hatred, envy, and narcissism, which never did anything for the Americans, but just for himself.

It is to be hoped that the deluded, who believed his lies and flogging, quickly learn that only a united country can preserve its splendor and greatness.

Moreover, only one nation can eliminate the mountain of problems that have arisen in recent years, admittedly even before the presidency of Donald Trump.

A SPECIAL INAUGURATION CEREMONY

Nobody missed Trump. And unlike his Inauguration Ceremony, Biden / Harris’ inauguration was supposed to recreate the glamor of the old days. Even if, due to the current Covid-19 conditions and the massive security measures in Washington D.C., hundreds of thousands were not able to attend as usual and fill the area in front of the Capitol, along Union Square and Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden to celebrate.

Only a few guests could – with sufficient distance – attend the celebrations in front of the venerable building, which two weeks ago almost fell into the hands of an angry mob.

THE THREE PRESIDENTS

Besides Mike Pence, the three former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George Bush also took part in the ceremony on the tribune of the Capitol. With his presence, Bush sent a strong and conciliatory signal to the Republicans. Unfortunately, ex-president Jimmy Carter could not appear in person as announced. After all, at 96, he is part of the Covid-19 risk group.

THE (FIRST) LADIES

As impressive as the ex-president’s appearance was, the ladies at their side stole the show from them. First and foremost, of course, Michelle Obama, who appeared like a Marvel heroine in a plum-colored outfit. More on this in the report: The Style Icons and powerful women of the Inauguration.

THE OPENING SPEECH BY AMY KLOBUCHAR

The ceremony was opened by a visibly overjoyed Amy Klobuchar. The United States Senator from Minnesota gave everyone a warm welcome, including a “whole bunch of Bidens”. Shining like the sun, the politician recalled the history of the Capitol and 244 years of democracy.

She recalled that the cathedral was only partially completed when Abraham Lincoln gave his first inaugural address. Klobuchar also recalled that Lincoln was criticized for investing funds in building the Capitol during the Civil War.

„To those critics he replied, if the people see the Capitol going on, it is a sign we intent the union shall go on. And it did, and it will!”

Of course, this speech was addressed to those angry people who only two weeks earlier stormed Capitol Hill and stormed the venerable house. Five people, including a police officer, lost their lives in the riot, incited by their then President Donald Trump. Many were injured, including US democracy.

Amy Klobuchar warned in her speech that many Americans gave their lives to protect the country’s democracy and that this democracy should not be taken for granted. To live in freedom, of course, means not only to demand this freedom but to do your part to ensure that it is protected.

Even more radiant, Klobuchar explained that the inauguration of the president is to be celebrated, but also the inauguration of the first woman in the office of vice president. Kamala Harris proves to the world what is possible for a woman today.

U.S. SENATOR ROY BLUNT AND LEO JEREMIAH O’DONOVAN III.

She gave the floor to U.S. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri. He explained that challenges have to be faced and that democracy is vulnerable but also very resilient. For him, yesterday was a day of coming together, not of division. It is also a day of new beginnings, for a better future for all Americans.

After this, Father Leo Jeremiah O’Donovan III. asked for wisdom for the president and the nation. The priest and president of Georgetown University reminded everyone that dreams are made together, for everyone. Furthermore, he prayed for the new president that he would have the strength to bring the people of the country back together.

IN CONTRAST – LADY GAGA PERFORMS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN A RED/BLACK GOWN

After so much contemplation, it got glamorous when Lady Gaga took the stage to sing the national anthem. Supported by the Marines Band, she performed with a clenched fist and with all her heart.

After Andrea Hall, President of the International Firefighters, from South Salton, Atlanta, pledged allegiance, things got serious at the inauguration. And yet not really.

THE FIRST FEMALE, BLACK AND SOUTH ASIAN VICE PRESIDENT: KAMALA HARRIS

Because, as is already typical of her, when Kamala Harries was sworn in by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Sonia Sotomayor – the first Latina in this office – she enchanted people with her unbelievably positive charisma and cheerfulness.

The country has lacked that mischievous smile for so many years. Her aura is comparable to that of Barack Obamas. It shows strength and self-confidence, intelligence and enlightenment, empathy, and humanity, and thus a new beginning, a departure into a new time.

JLO AS SUPPORTING ACT

And it got glamorous again when JLo, i.e. Jennifer Lopez, took the stage to present a patriotic medley. She mixed “This Land Is Your Land” and “America, the Beautiful” to underline that the DNA of the USA consists of the diversity and openness, the possibilities and dreams that have made the country so great. In the end, she even agreed to the title of her hit “Let’s Get Loud” to set an example that every single voice counts and that one should stand up for their convictions.

Amy Klobuchar took over the microphone and said:

This is the first inauguration in the history of America where Jlo was the warm-up act for Chief Justice Roberts.

JOE BIDEN’S INAUGURATION

And so came the big moment of the inauguration that millions of people across the world had been waiting for. John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, stepped onto the podium to take Joe Biden’s oath of office.

Biden took the podium with his wife, Jill, and their children, Ashley, and Hunter. When John Roberts said the words “Congratulations Mr. President” you could hear the whole world breathe a sigh of relief.

Joe Biden is a new hope. He stands for reconciliation, togetherness, and progress. He stands for responsibility and honesty. Joe Biden set about signing many decrees that evening. This included, among other things, the re-entry into the Paris Climate Agreement and the WHO.

THE NEXT 100 DAYS

Joe Biden takes on a heavy burden. In the first 100 days of his presidency, he needs to straighten things out that had been in a mess for four years and were rotting away.

The most important points already announced include those already mentioned:

BIDEN’S CABINET

Biden has already introduced the first members of his cabinet. However, they have yet to be confirmed by the Senate. Besides Kamala Harris, of course, his team will include the following members (excerpt):

ANTONY BLINKEN

Secretary of State

JANET YELLEN

Secretary of the Treasury

LLOYD AUSTIN

Secretary of Defence

DEB HAALAND

Secretary of the Interior

From the first day, Biden sets powerful statements. The Secretary of Defence, Llyoud Austin, is the first black person in this office. Moreover, Deb Haaland is the first Native American elected official.

MERRICK GARLAND

ATTORNEY GENERAL

MARCIA FUDGE

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

AVRIL HAINES

Director of National Intelligence

DENIS MCDONOUGH

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

BIDEN’S INAUGURATION SPEECH

But let’s hear what Joe Biden had to say to the world as the 46th President of the United States.

“Without unity, there can be no peace.”

Garth Brooks underlined the admonishing words of the 46th President of the United States. The country star performed one of the most important songs in American history, Amazing Grace.

But the inauguration ceremony had another highlight. With Amanda Gorman, the sun shined literally twice. Read on the next page.