Floyd's brothers reflect on the changes that resulted from the country's racial reckoning following Floyd's death, from Mississippi changing its flag to police departments reallocating funding.
Garth Brooks performed "Amazing Grace" at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Following Biden's first speech as president, the country music legend took to the podium to sing the popular tune. The two-time Grammy winner, 58, announced Monday he'd be singing on-site at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the swearing-in ceremony, joining previously announced artists including Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez.
Lady Gaga knows how to make a grand entrance, and she certainly did for the 2021 presidential inauguration. The iconic singer powerfully made her presence known wearing a custom Schiaparelli haute couture look as she sang the national anthem into a gold microphone. Gaga wore her hair in a braided updo and rocked a striking bold red lipstick.
With less than an hour before his term ended, President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted one final pardon to Albert Pirro, a longtime New York businessman and the ex-husband of Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro, one of Trump’s staunchest cable news supporters. What was possibly Trump’s final act as president reflected a recurring theme in his final months in office: delivering clemencies to scores of personal friends and political allies. The decision to pardon Pirro came less than 12 hours after what was thought to be a final batch of 143 pardons and commutations -- a list that included Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist.
Former first lady Michelle Obama attended the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday wearing a magenta, monochrome suit. Obama's suit reportedly was designed by Sergio Hudson, a Black designer from South Carolina who also designed the heels worn by Harris on Inauguration Day. The magenta shade of Obama's suit was seen as a nod to unity as the new Biden administration enters the White House.
Amanda Gorman made history Wednesday as the youngest poet in recent history to read a poem at a presidential inauguration. Gorman, 22, read her own poem at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Bide and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The Los Angeles native told NPR she finished writing the poem, titled "The Hill We Climb," on the night of Jan. 6, hours after rioters took part in a siege on Capitol Hill.
World leaders have reacted to a "new dawn" in U.S. politics after Joe Biden was sworn is as the 46th president of the United States. Historic allies in the EU and U.K. have struck the most upbeat tone, with Ursurla von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, saying there's a "friend in the White House" after four years wheretransatlantic relations often were strained. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Biden ahead of the inauguration ceremony.
Jill Biden is starting her new role as the first lady of the United States in high style. For the 2021 presidential inauguration, she wore a custom Markarian matching coat and dress set made in an ocean blue, wool tweed. To top her vibrant ensemble off, she wore a statement pearl necklace with Swarovski crystals and a pair of neutral-toned pumps.
Joe Biden took the oath of office just before noon on a cold but bright and sunny Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol, becoming the 46th president of the United States and culminating a nearly 50-year career in politics and a lifetime of tragedy and triumph. Democracy is fragile.
On Wednesday, he aided in the peaceful transfer of power that those protesters had resisted, walking alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, soon-to-be second gentleman Doug Emhoff, into the 59th presidential inauguration ceremony. Goodman was also made an honorary Deputy Sergeant at Arms for Inauguration Day. On Jan. 6, Goodman led the mob on a chase in an effort to divert it away from the unguarded Senate chambers, where Senators, staff and reporters took shelter.
President Donald Trump and Melania Trump shared their final farewell from the White House this morning. For their send-off, Melania was seen wearing an all-black ensemble consisting of a cropped Chanel jacket adorned with gold buttons and a Dolce and Gabbana dress. The first lady also kept a pair of dark shades on as the couple addressed the nation before their departure to President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
When President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office Wednesday, he'll do so using a Bible with 127 years of family history behind it. Biden, who is Catholic, has used the leather-bound, 5-inch thick book, which has been in his family since 1893, each time he's been sworn into elected office during the course of his career. Biden's late son Beau also used the family Bible when he was sworn in as Delaware's attorney general.
Kamala Harris is breaking barriers as the first female U.S. vice president and many of her supporters have found a special way to celebrate her. For the 2021 inauguration, women across the country are wearing pearls and Converse sneakers to symbolize Harris' historic moment alongside President-elect Joe Biden. Harris was seen wearing her go-to Chuck Taylor shoes and pearls on the campaign trail.
As the world celebrates the swearing in of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, a highly-orchestrated transfer of power is also taking place behind the scenes at the White House. There, dozens of White House residence staff are quickly transforming the White House to the Biden's family liking by the time they return Wednesday evening as president and first lady. "There's a moving van that is positioned in one direction to take the belongings of the outgoing president and first family to leave the White House," Anita McBride, who served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush, told "Good Morning America" four years ago, when Donald Trump was entering office.
A nurse who is on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic has paid tribute to COVID-19 victims at a national memorial held on the eve of Joe Biden’s inauguration as president of the United States. Lori Marie Key is a registered nurse at St. Mary Mercy in Livonia, Michigan, who went viral in April 2020 after a video of her singing "Amazing Grace" inside the hospital brought tears to the eyes of millions. "We are so proud of St. Mary Mercy Livonia nurse Lori Key, whose singing again inspired the nation with her heartbreaking rendition of Amazing Grace to honor the lives lost during the pandemic," St. Joe's Health wrote on Instagram.
After Kamala Harris' own historic swearing-in as vice president, she will usher in three other historic firsts as she swears in three new senators. On Wednesday afternoon Harris will swear in her successor, Alex Padilla, to take her old Senate seat. Padilla will become California's first Latino senator.
Trump boarded Marine One to head to Joint Base Andrews for a farewell speech hours before Joe Biden is sworn in as 46th president of the United States. Trump, who is not attending Biden's inauguration, was greeted at Joint Base Andrews by cannons firing and the military band playing.
India has begun exporting Covid-19 vaccines to neighboring countries with the first batches being shipped Wednesday to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, the foreign ministry said. “First consignment takes off for Bhutan!” was the first of a flurry of tweets from the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Anurag Srivastava, as he posted pictures of batches leaving and arriving at different destinations, “Indian vaccines reach Maldives, reflects our special friendship.” Indian vaccines reach Maldives, reflects our special friendship.
For the first time in history, kids will have a special way to watch the presidential inauguration. Actress Keke Palmer will host a special live broadcast of the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The livestream, made especially for students and families, will feature a special message from incoming first lady Dr. Jill Biden, who invited children in a video message posted on Twitter.
When President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20, he'll be inheriting more than the Oval Office. As the COVID-19 pandemic extends into another year, the United States is leading the world for all the wrong reasons. The U.S. is also in the midst of the biggest surge of the pandemic to date, with 10 states reporting record numbers of new deaths this week, according to an ABC News analysis of data from The COVID Tracking Project.
Finally, and more than a bit nervously, Joe Biden's moment arrives on Wednesday. The president-elect's inaugural speech will call for resolve and unity and be forward-looking in tone, Biden aides say. It will not and cannot avoid its placement in this moment, though, and Biden comes to office amid challenges both unique and familiar.
