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Thursday January 21, 2021 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday Aruba’s underwater instagram.com/arubatoday wonderland Page 9 Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper Biden takes the helm as president: ‘Democracy has prevailed’ By JONATHAN LEMIRE, ZEKE MILLER and ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the Unit- ed States on Wednesday, declaring that “democ- racy has prevailed” and summoning American re- silience and unity to con- front the deeply divided nation’s historic conflu- ence of crises. Biden took the oath at a U.S. Capitol that had been battered by an insurrectionist siege just Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during two weeks earlier. the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as their children Ashley and Hunter Continued on Page 2 watch. Associated Press A2 THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2021 UP FRONT Biden takes the helm as president: ‘Democracy has prevailed’ U.S. senator from California time we’re in now.” hand on a five-inch-thick is also the first Black person Biden was eager to go big Bible that has been in his and the first person of South early, with an ambitious first family for 128 years, Biden Asian descent elected to 100 days including a push came to office with a well the vice presidency and to speed up the distribution of empathy and resolve the highest-ranking wom- of COVID-19 vaccinations born by personal tragedy an ever to serve in the U.S. to anxious Americans and as well as a depth of expe- government. pass a $1.9 trillion econom- rience forged from more Biden never mentioned ic relief package. On Day than four decades in Wash- his predecessor, who de- One, as part of a push to ington. At age 78, he is the fied tradition and left town roll back Trump administra- oldest president inaugu- ahead of the ceremony, tion initiatives, he signed a rated. Both he, Harris and but his speech was an im- series of executive actions, their spouses walked the plicit rebuke of Donald including to re-enter the last short part of the route Trump. The new president Paris Climate Accords and to the White House after an President Joe Biden waits to sign his first executive order in the denounced “lies told for to mandate mask wearing abridged parade. Biden Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in power and for profit” and on federal property. then strode into the Oval Washington. was blunt about the chal- “There’s no time to start like Office, a room he knew Associated Press lenges ahead. today,” Biden said as he well as vice president, for Central among them: signed the actions in the the first time as command- Continued from Front “The will of the people has the surging virus that has Oval Office. er in chief. been heard, and the will claimed more than 400,000 The absence of Biden’s Earlier, the two were sworn On a cold Washington of the people has been lives in the United States, predecessor from the in- in during an inauguration morning dotted with snow heeded. We’ve learned as well as economic strains augural ceremony under- ceremony with few paral- flurries, the quadrennial again that democracy is and a national reckoning scored the national rift to lels. Biden, like all those in ceremony unfolded within precious and democracy over race. be healed. attendance, wore a face a circle of security forces is fragile. At this hour, my “We have much to do in But a bipartisan trio of for- mask except when speak- evocative of a war zone friends, democracy has this winter of peril, and sig- mer presidents — Bill Clin- ing. And tens of thousands and devoid of crowds be- prevailed,” Biden said. “This nificant possibilities. Much ton, George W. Bush and of National Guard troops cause of the coronavirus is America’s day. This is de- to repair, much to restore, Barack Obama — were were on the streets to pro- pandemic. mocracy’s day. A day in much to heal, much to there to witness the cer- vide security precisely two Instead, Biden gazed out history and hope, of renew- build and much to gain,” emonial transfer of power. weeks after a violent mob over 200,000 American al and resolve.” Biden said. “Few people Trump, awaiting his second of Trump supporters, incit- flags planted on the Na- History was made at his in our nation’s history have impeachment trial, was at ed by the Republican pres- tional Mall to symbolize side, as Kamala Harris be- been more challenged, or his Florida resort by the time ident, stormed the Capitol those who could not at- came the first woman to be found a time more chal- the swearing-in took place. in an attempt to prevent tend in person. vice president. The former lenging or difficult than the Biden, in his third run for the the certification of Biden’s presidency, staked his can- victory. “Here we stand, didacy less on any distinc- just days after a riotous tive political ideology than mob thought they could on galvanizing a broad co- use violence to silence the alition of voters around the will of the people,” Biden notion that Trump posed an said. “To stop the work of existential threat to Ameri- our democracy. To drive us can democracy. Four years from this sacred ground. It after Trump’s “American did not happen. It will nev- Carnage” speech painted er happen. Not today, not a dark portrait of national tomorrow. Not ever. Not decay, Biden warned that ever.” the fabric of the nation’s The tense atmosphere democracy was tearing evoked the 1861 inaugu- but expressed faith that it ration of Abraham Lincoln, could be repaired. who was secretly transport- “I know the forces that di- ed to Washington to avoid vide us are deep and they assassins on the eve of the are real. But I also know Civil War, or Franklin Roos- they are not new. Our his- evelt’s inaugural in 1945, tory has been a constant when he opted for a small, struggle between the secure ceremony at the American ideal that we White House in the waning are all created equal and months of World War II. the harsh, ugly reality that But Washington, all but de- racism, nativism, fear, de- serted downtown and in its monization have long torn federal areas, was quiet. us apart,” Biden said. “This And calm also prevailed is our historic moment of outside heavily fortified crisis and challenge, and state Capitol buildings unity is the path forward across nation after the FBI and we must meet this mo- had warned of the pos- ment as the United States sibility for armed demon- of America.” strations leading up to the Swearing the oath with his inauguration. q A3 U.S. NEWS THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2021 Democrats gaining Senate control as new members take oath By LISA MASCARO AP Con- to more quickly advance gressional Correspondent Biden's priorities, but not all WASHINGTON (AP) — Three rank-and-file Senate Dem- new senators were sworn ocrats are on board and into office Wednesday af- new Senate Majority Lead- ter President Joe Biden's er Chuck Schumer has not inauguration, securing the agreed to any changes. majority for Democrats Instead, Schumer has pro- in the Senate and across posed an organizing reso- a unified government to lution modeled after a tackle the new president's 2001 agreement reached agenda at a time of un- between the two leaders precedented national the last time the chamber challenges. was evenly divided. It al- Vice President Kamala Har- lowed equal representa- ris drew applause as she tion on committees, shared entered the chamber to resources for offices and deliver the oath of office to other needs and made no the new Democratic sena- mention of filibuster chang- tors — Jon Ossoff, Raphael es at all. Warnock and Alex Padilla Talks have hit a stalemate, — just hours after taking her leaving Senate action un- own oath at the Capitol certain. alongside Biden. The three Associated Press Biden has said he wants Democrats join a Senate finish the remainder of Har- time, the Senate is about to McConnell is not relinquish- Congress to press ahead narrowly split 50-50 be- ris' term — drawing chuck- launch an impeachment ing power without a fight. on all fronts, confirming his tween the parties, but giv- les from the new vice presi- trial of Trump, charged by McConnell is is refusing nominees and consider- ing Democrats the majority dent as she read aloud the the House of inciting the to enter a power-sharing ing his legislative priorities, with Harris able to cast the official documentation. insurrection at the Capitol agreement with Senate but also holding the former tie-breaking vote. Taken together, their arrival as rioters tried to interrupt Democrats unless they president responsible dur- "Today, America is turning gives Democrats for the first the Electoral College tally meet his demands, chiefly ing the impeachment trial. over a new leaf. We are time in a decade control of and overturn Biden's elec- to preserve the Senate That's a tall order for a Sen- turning the page on the last the Senate, the House and tion. The Senate will need filibuster — the procedural ate under normal circum- four years, we're going to the White House, as Biden to confirm Biden's Cabinet tool often used by the mi- stances, but even more so reunite the country, defeat faces the unparalleled nominees as launches the nority party to block bills now in the post-Trump era, COVID-19, rush economic challenges of the COVID-19 new administration.

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