President Joe Biden is signing a series of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, just hours after his inauguration. Source: Getty Images North America

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‘Let’s end this uncivil war’: Joe Biden signs a slew of executive orders after entering the White House as US President

Follow along with the SBS News live blog as Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States of America.

President Joe Biden is signing a series of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, just hours after his inauguration. Source: Getty Images North America

Published 21 January 2021 3:04am

Updated 21 January 2021 3:37pm

By Maani Truu

Source: SBS

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21 Jan 2021 3:36pm

That's a wrap from the Joe Biden inauguration

Thanks for tuning in to our live coverage of Joe Biden's inauguration as the 46th President of the United States.

We're going to be wrapping up our liveblog now, but stay with sbs.com.au/news for all the latest updates out of America.

For those that missed them, here are the highlights of the day's coverage.

World leaders congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their historic win

'The United States is back': World leaders congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris following inauguration

QAnon followers realised their baseless conspiracy was 'all a lie'

QAnon followers realise their baseless conspiracy was 'all a lie' as President Joe Biden takes office

Poet Amanda Gorman stole the show at the inauguration

Who is Amanda Gorman, the young poet who stole the show at Joe Biden's inauguration?

Donald Trump declared 'we will be back'

Donald Trump declares 'we will be back' as he leaves the White House for Florida

And Capitol Hill hero Eugene Goodman reappeared at Kamala Harris's side

After heroic role fighting the Capitol Hill riots, Eugene Goodman escorts Kamala Harris to inauguration

21 Jan 2021 2:56pm

Recap: Biden demands decency

President Biden has virtually sworn in at least 1,000 new White House employees - but warned them they would be fired "on the spot" if he hears them disrespecting a fellow colleague.

“If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treating another colleague with disrespect, talking down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot," President Biden said in the State Dining Room before administering the Oath of Office.

"No ifs, ands, or buts."

21 Jan 2021 2:53pm

Recap: Trump's letter to Biden

President Joe Biden said Donald Trump's letter to him was "very generous", as he sat down at his new desk in the Oval Office to sign orders to overturn a slew of Trump-era policies.

"The president wrote a very generous letter," he said, referring to the former president. "Because it was private, I won't talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous."

President Joe Biden looks up as he signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden looks up as he signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office. Source: AP

21 Jan 2021 2:39pm

Recap: The young poet who stole the show

American poet Amanda Gorman set the Internet alight when she became the youngest person in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration at just 22 years old.

Titled the 'The Hill We Climb', her work touched on themes of resilience, hurt and hope.

"We, the successors of a country and a time, where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming President," she read.

"Only to find herself reciting for one."

She is only the sixth poet to perform at a presidential inauguration, following in the footsteps of Maya Angelou and Robert Frost.

21 Jan 2021 2:16pm

Recap: Joe Biden enters the White House as America's 46th president

As the historic events from Washington start to wind down, we'll begin our recap of the best bits from Joe Biden's inauguration.

While striking an optimistic tone in his first speech as US President, Joe Biden also touched on the dual crises playing out across America.

The first is the deep political divisions spurred by former President Donald Trump's refusal to accept the results of last year's presidential election, that culminated in the deadly attack on the Capitol two weeks ago.

He described the divide as an "un-civil war that pits red against blue" or, in other words, Republicans against Democrats.

President Biden also asked viewers and the in-person audience of about 1,000 special guests to join him in a silent prayer for all more than 400,000 American lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, friends, neighbours and co-workers. We'll honour them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be," he said.

21 Jan 2021 1:37pm

Kamala Harris speaks about aspiration and ambition

Freshly-minted Vice President Kamala Harris has delivered a stirring speech as the wash-up from Joe Biden's inauguration continues.

"It is my honour to be here, to stand on the shoulders of those who came before, to speak tonight as your Vice-President," she said.

"In many ways, this moment embodies our character as a nation. It demonstrates who we are, even in dark times.

"We not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be. We shoot for the moon and plant our flag on it. We are bold, fearless and ambitious.

"We are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up. This is American aspiration."

21 Jan 2021 1:28pm

Who is Vice President Kamala Harris?

Kamala Harris made history when she was sworn in as Joe Biden’s vice president, becoming the first woman, the first Black American and the first Asian American to hold the second highest US office.

Looking ahead, Ms Harris, 56, is seen as an obvious contender for the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nomination should Mr Biden, 78, decide not to seek a second term.

A US senator from California the past four years, Ms Harris has shattered many glass ceilings.

Kamala Harris breaks barriers as first woman of colour to be sworn in as US vice president

21 Jan 2021 12:29pm

What next for 'citizen' Donald Trump

He’s been impeached twice, failed to secure a second term and made baseless claims of electoral fraud. Donald Trump will likely go down in history as one of the most irregular presidents the United States has ever seen.

After four extraordinary years, he’s soon to leave the Oval Office, with Joe Biden's inauguration this week, but experts say it’s unlikely he’ll go quietly.

So what’s next for Mr Trump?

President Trump may be gone but citizen Trump will live on. What's next for him?

21 Jan 2021 11:47am

The Trump twist nobody saw coming

On a lighter note, Tiger King star Joe Exotic has unleashed on Donald Trump after his pleas for a last-minute presidential pardon fell on deaf ears.

Exotic was charged with killing five tigers, selling cubs and attempting to hire a hitman to kill his long-time rival, Carol Baskin.

He is currently two-and-a-half years into a 22-year sentence.

Here's a rundown on who DID get a pardon before Mr Trump left office, including rap star Lil Wayne.

Steve Bannon and Lil Wayne among 73 pardons granted by Donald Trump in his final hours as president

21 Jan 2021 11:24am

Biden's team seeks to restore trust with America

The new Biden team has wasted no time in trying to set a new tone following the departure of Donald Trump.

Press secretary Jen Psaki - holding the Biden administration's first White House press briefing - stressed the need for "truth and transparency".

A combative and hostile relationship with the media was one of the hallmarks of the Trump presidency.

"There will be times when we see things differently in this room. That's OK," she told reporters.

"That's part of our democracy. And rebuilding trust with the American people will be central to our focus in the press office and in the White House every single day."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during her first press briefing at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during her first press briefing at the White House. Source: AP

21 Jan 2021 11:17am

Scott Morrison says Australia and the US are the 'best of mates'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has congratulated the incoming Biden administration, while outlining what he thinks are the key areas of cooperation between Australia and the US.

"Australia and the United States are the best of mates, and the best of allies," he told reporters on Thursday.

"There is a lot of work to do, whether it is on climate, energy, international security, or regional security here in the Indo-Pacific.

"These are all the big issues that President Biden and I will continue to address together, as presidents and prime ministers always have."

21 Jan 2021 11:03am

Coronavirus deaths surpass military fatalities in WWII on Joe Biden's first day

If you needed anymore evidence that Joe Biden is facing an uphill battle as he embarks on the presidency, here it is: the total number of coronavirus deaths in the US has now surpassed that of military fatalities in World War II.

More than 405,400 people Americans have died from the disease, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, more than the 405,399 military members killed in the war.

In his inaugural address, President Biden described the coming months of the pandemic as a "dark winter".

"We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus," he said.

And that's all from me, Maani Truu, this morning. I'll now be handing you over to my SBS News colleagues, who will take you through the rest of the day. Thanks for reading!

21 Jan 2021 10:47am

Biden swears in new White House officials, calls for decency

President Biden has virtually sworn in at least 1,000 new White House employees, warning they would be fired "on the spot" if he hears them disrespecting a fellow colleague.

“If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treating another colleague with disrespect, talking down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot," President Biden said in the State Dining Room before administering the Oath of Office. "No ifs, ands, or buts."

President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Source: AAP

More broadly, he emphasised the need for decency - which he said has been "missing in a big way the past four years" - and humility in US politics.

"People don't work for us, we work for the people. I work for the people, they pay my salary. They pay your salary," he said.

"History is going to measure us and our fellow Americans by how decent, honourable, and smart we have been in looking after their interests."

"We're going to do it by leading with one core American value: humility."

21 Jan 2021 10:12am

President Biden reportedly finished signing executive actions

President Biden has reportedly finished signing 15 executive orders and two agency actions, according to CNN.

Among the first orders on his agenda was one requiring face masks to be worn by federal staff and on federal property and another rejoining the Paris climate accord.

He has also reversed former president Donald Trump's decision to leave the World Health Organization and his ban on people arriving from Muslim-majority countries.

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," President Biden said.

The order to rejoin the Paris climate accord comes as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the new President to adopt an "ambitious" plan to fight global warming.

"I warmly welcome President Biden's steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis," he said in a statement.

"We look forward to the leadership of United States in accelerating global efforts towards net zero, including by bringing forward a new nationally determined contribution with ambitious 2030 targets and climate finance in advance of COP26 in Glasgow later this year."

With AFP

21 Jan 2021 9:53am

Who is Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old poet who stole the show?

One of the highlights of this morning's inauguration was a powerful poem titled 'The Hill We Climb' read by a 22-year-old Harvard graduate from Los Angeles. Here's what you need to know about the author, Amanda Gorman.

She's became the first ever national youth poet laureate in 2017 and is just the sixth poet to read at a presidential inauguration, following in the footsteps of Maya Angelou and Robert Frost.

American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the inauguration of Joe Biden. Source: AAP,AP / AAP/AP POOL

Ms Gorman was invited to read at the historic event on the suggestion of First Lady Jill Biden, who saw her perform at the Library of Congress in 2017.

Her poem struck an optimistic tone on the back of violent riots and racial injustice in the United States, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.

"When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it," she said.

Oprah Winfrey congratulated Ms Gorman on her reading, to which she responded: "I would be nowhere without the women whose footsteps I dance in."

"While reciting my poem, I wore a ring with a caged bird - a gift from Oprah for the occasion, to symbolise Maya Angelou, a previous inaugural poet.

"Here’s to the women who have climbed my hills before."

Former president Barack Obama also heaped praise on the 22-year-old, declaring her poem "more than met the moment".

"Young people like her are proof that 'there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it; if only we're brave enough to be it'," he said on Twitter.

Read the full story below:

Who is Amanda Gorman, the young poet who stole the show at Joe Biden's inauguration?

21 Jan 2021 9:20am

Donald Trump's letter to Joe Biden 'very generous'

President Joe Biden said Donald Trump's letter to him was "very generous", as he sat down at his new desk in the Oval Office to sign orders to overturn a slew of Trump-era policies.

"The president wrote a very generous letter," he said, referring to the former president. "Because it was private, I won't talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous."

President Joe Biden looks up as he signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office. Source: AP

Some of the key policies to be scrapped are the construction of the US-Mexico border wall, the travel ban on people from some Muslim-majority countries and plans for the US to leave the World Health Organization.

21 Jan 2021 9:11am

First order of business: Kamala Harris swears in new Senators

On her first day in the job, Vice-President Kamala Harris has sworn in three new Senators, shifting the balance in the Senate in favour of the Democrats.

The new Senators are Georgia’s Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, both Democrats elected in run-off elections, as well as Vice-President Harris’ replacement in California, Alex Padilla.

Senator Warnock will be the first black Senator to represent Georgia, while Senator Ossoff will be the first Jewish Senator from the state. Meanwhile, Senator Padilla is California's first Latino senator.

Their swearing in means the Senate will now be 50-50 Democrat and Republican, making Democrat Chuck Schumer the new Senate Majority leader.

While the Senate is technically evenly split, Vice-President will hold the tie-breaking vote giving Democrats the edge.

21 Jan 2021 8:58am

What Joe Biden's presidency will mean for Australia

Joe Biden is in the White House, but what will that mean for Australia?

SBS News reporter Rashida Yosufzai took a look at the question earlier this week and found two key issues that could alter Australia's relationship with the United States under a Biden administration: climate change and China.

“[President] Biden would be pushing America's friends like Australia to do more on climate change, so we don't want to look like a recalcitrant,” said Michael Fullilove, the executive director of The Lowy Institute.

What a Joe Biden presidency will mean for Australia

"If the US starts to move very fast - and of course the US is one of the two biggest emitters along with China, and China's already promised to go from net zero emissions by 2060 - Australia is going to be much more exposed than it currently is."

But whereas Australia could find itself in an awkward position with the US on climate, it may be the opposite when it comes to China.

Jason Aravanis, an industry analyst at IBISWorld Australia, said Mr Biden’s stronger focus on alliances will benefit Australia when it comes to its rocky relationship with China.

“You'd probably see China being more cautious moving forward, and being aware that if they push too hard, they're likely to experience pushback from the United States as well,” he said.

Read the
full story here
.

21 Jan 2021 8:41am

Fireworks in the Indian village of Thulasendrapuram as Kamala Harris is sworn in

Residents of Thulasendrapuram - a small Indian village with connections to Kamala Harris' family - have celebrated her swearing in with fireworks and chanting.

"Long live Kamala Harris," they shouted, holding portraits of the new Vice-President, as they watched the inauguration television broadcast. Vice-President Harris is the first person of South Asian descent to hold the office.

A village in India with ancestral links to Kamala Harris erupted into celebration during her inauguration. Source: AP

Earlier, residents adorned their temple with flowers, offering special prayers for Vice-President Harris' success. Her maternal grandfather was born in the village of Thulasendrapuram, about 350km from the southern coastal city of Chennai.

"We are feeling very proud that an Indian is being elected as the vice president of America," said teacher Anukampa Madhavasimhan.

Read the full story from AAP below:

Kamala Harris' ancestral village in India erupts into celebration as she becomes US vice president

21 Jan 2021 8:23am

What's your first job? 'Walking to work!'

Vice-President Kamala Harris - the first female Vice-President in US history - has now joined President Joe Biden in the White House.

Like the new President, she exited the motorcade to walk to final few hundred metres to the White House with her family.

Vice-President Kamala Harris, her husband Doug Emhoff and their family walk in the parade. Source: AAP

It was unclear whether the the new leaders would be able to walk any part of the parade due to heightened security concerns.

Journalists lining the largely-empty streets asked Vice-President Harris what her first job would be now she's been sworn in, to which she responded: "walking to work".

‘Let’s end this uncivil war’: Joe Biden signs a slew of executive orders after entering the White House as US President