Joseph Robinette Biden Jr, 78, took the oath of office on Wednesday to become the President of the United States of America on a chilly day in Washington, in a ceremony truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have come so far, we still have far to go,” said US President Joe Biden in his inaugural speech.

Biden, the 46th president of the US, is the oldest person to be sworn in as President. The significantly scaled-down ceremony was held in the same lawns through which Donald Trump supporters rampaged the Capitol on January 7 as the House sat to ratify Biden’s election.

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Biden took the oath
on his 127-year-old family Bible, which was held by First Lady Jill Biden.

Earlier, in a tweet that gave a glimpse of Biden’s work plan, the President tweeted, “We don’t have a second to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face as a nation. That’s why after being sworn in tomorrow, I’ll get right to work.”

“It’s a new day in America”, he added.

The ceremony was attended
by former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton and former
first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.

President Trump
skipped the inauguration, first former president to do so in 152 years. He,
however, extended “best wishes” to new administration in a farewell
video address on Tuesday.

Biden and Harris attended
the traditional Pass in Review with members of the military on the East Front
of the Capitol, signifying the peaceful transfer of power to a new
commander-in-chief.

The ceremony was
scaled down this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and Biden is also forgoing
the traditional inaugural balls.