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Biden inauguration in pictures

Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th US President - here are some of the best photos from inauguration day.

News imageReuters US President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, after his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, 20 January 2021.Reuters
President Biden set to work at the Oval Office having been sworn in earlier on Wednesday at the US Capitol. In his initial acts as the 46th US president, he signed 15 executive orders - the first to boost the federal response to the coronavirus crisis
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News imageGetty Images Katy Perry (foreground) performs amid the fireworks at the Washington Monument at a televised ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC.Getty Images
A star-studded concert marked the beginning of Mr Biden's presidency, with performances from Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and Bon Jovi
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News imageGetty Images US. Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attend a televised ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on 20 January 2021 in Washington, DC.Getty Images
Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attended the ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial
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News imageBiden Inaugural Committee / REUTERS President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch fireworks from the balcony of the White House, at the "Celebrating America" event in this still image from videoBiden Inaugural Committee / REUTERS
Speaking during the televised "Celebrating America" event, President Biden explained that he and Vice-President Kamala Harris "wanted to make sure our inauguration was not about us, but about you the American people"
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News imageAFP Fireworks are seen above the White House at the end of the Inauguration day for US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC, on 20 January 2021.AFP
The theme of the concert was not celebration but unity, with tributes paid to the frontline workers who have borne the brunt of the Covid pandemic
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News imageGetty Images US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden watch a fireworks show on the National Mall from the Truman Balcony at the White House, 20 January 2021 in WashingtonGetty Images
The president and first lady watched the fireworks show on the National Mall from the Truman Balcony at the White House
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News imageReuters U.S. President Joe Biden swears in presidential appointees in a virtual ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, after Biden's inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, U.S., 20 January 2021.Reuters
President Biden swore in presidential appointees during a virtual ceremony in the Oval Office
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News imageEPA President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden wave on the steps of The White HouseEPA
The President and First Lady Dr Jill Biden waved to supporters before entering The White House
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News imageReuters A general view of the Capitol during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S.,Reuters
Mr Biden's inauguration ceremony was restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic
News imagePatrick Semansky / Getty Images Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US PresidentPatrick Semansky / Getty Images
Mr Biden took his oath on a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was also used each time he was sworn in as Delaware senator. The book itself is five inches (12.5cm) thick with a Celtic cross on the cover
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News imageAlex Wong/Getty Images Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice PresidentAlex Wong/Getty Images
Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice-president - the first woman and first black and Asian-American person to serve in this role
News imageReuters U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris greets former President Barack Obama ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, 20 January 2021.Reuters
Barack Obama - the country's first black president - exchanged an inauguration day fist bump with Vice President Harris. The moment was celebrated online as a historic passing of the torch between the two political trailblazers
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News imageRob Carr / Getty Images President Biden gives his inaugural speechRob Carr / Getty Images
After his swearing-in, President Biden gave his inaugural speech, saying: "We learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile and at this moment, my friends, democracy has prevailed"
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News imageReuters Amanda Gorman recites a poem during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.Reuters
One inauguration performance that enthralled attendees and continues to captivate many across the world on social media was that of 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman. She was the youngest poet to ever perform at a presidential inauguration, calling for "unity and togetherness" in her self-penned poem.
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News imageReuters Lady Gaga arrives to perform the National Anthem as President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris watch during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington DC, 20 January 2021.Reuters
Lady Gaga led the musical contributions to President Biden's inauguration ceremony, with a bold rendition of the US National Anthem
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News imageGetty Images Jennifer Lopez sings during the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe BidenGetty Images
Jennifer Lopez also sang a medley of This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful - addressing the crowd in Spanish part way through her performance, declaring: "Una nación indivisible con libertad y justicia para todos" (One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all)
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News imageReuters President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrive for his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2021.Reuters
The inauguration was unlike any other due to coronavirus restrictions, with few present to witness the oaths and ceremonies
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News imageWin McNamee / Getty Images President-elect Joe Biden stands alongside Jill BidenWin McNamee / Getty Images
The Bidens pictured as they arrived at the inauguration, on the West Front of the US Capitol
News imageReuters Vice President-elect Kamala Harris waves to the crowdReuters
Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff waved to well-wishers when they arrived. Harris wore purple, a colour traditionally seen in the US as a symbol of bipartisanship - a combination of the blue and red of the Democratic and Republican parties
News image Alex Wong/Getty Images Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the inauguration whilst wearing masks Alex Wong/Getty Images
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were among the guests at the inauguration
News imageRob Carr / Getty Images Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton walk down steps together to find their seatRob Carr / Getty Images
Former President Bill Clinton also arrived with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
News imageKent Nishimura / Getty Images Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush are shown their seatsKent Nishimura / Getty Images
Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush were shown to their seats before the swearing-in ceremony
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News imageAlex Edelman / Getty Images President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wave from Air Force OneAlex Edelman / Getty Images
Ex-President Donald Trump, who snubbed the inauguration ceremony, returned to his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida
News imageChip Somodevilla / Getty Images President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris lay a large wreath togetherChip Somodevilla / Getty Images
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris went on to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
News imageEPA Members of the military march on 15th Street towards the White House during a Presidential Escort of US President Joe Biden's limousine to the White House, in Washington, DC, USA, 20 January 2021.EPA
Members of the military march on 15th Street towards the White House during a Presidential Escort of the President's limousine to the White House
News imageMike Segar / Reuters Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, with their spousesMike Segar / Reuters
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, with their spouses, were seen looking out over the National Mall, which would normally be filled with supporters if not for the pandemic
News imageReuters The "Field of flags" is seen on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol building ahead of inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden in Washington DC. 20 January 20, 2021.Reuters
The National Mall was covered in flags, representing the people who were not able to attend
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News imageReuters Troops prepare to exit the Capitol after the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, in Washington DC, 20 January 2021.Reuters
Security across Washington was tight with about 25,000 troops on hand following a deadly riot at the Capitol earlier this month
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