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In photos: The Biden and Harris inauguration

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch a fireworks show on the National Mall from the Truman Balcony at the White House on Wednesday night. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Biden signed his first executive orders into law from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening after walking in a brief inaugural parade to the White House with first lady Jill Biden and members of their family. He was inaugurated with Vice President Kamala Harris at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday morning.

Why it matters: Many of Biden's day one actions immediately reverse key Trump administration policies, including rejoining the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, launching a racial equity initiative and reversing the Muslim travel ban.

  • Lawmakers gathered for the peaceful transfer of power two weeks after an unprecedented siege on the Capitol building by Trump supporters to disrupt the certification of Biden's victory. Trump did not attend Wednesday's ceremony.
In photos
Vice President Kamala Harris and first gentleman Doug Emhoff watch fireworks during the Celebrating America Primetime Special. Photo: Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Getty Images
Biden steps out of "The Beast" to join a brief inaugural parade. Photo: Biden Inaugural Committee via Getty Images
Biden signs one of a series of first-day orders. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty
Photos of Biden and his family in the Oval Office. Photo: Chip Somodevilla via Getty
Biden and the stack of executive orders. Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty
The Biden family walks the abbreviated parade route after inauguration. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
The new president and vice president watch as troops march in front of the Capitol. Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Biden and Harris attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The president is embraced by Jill Biden after taking the oath of office. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Harris with Emhoff after being sworn in as the 49th vice president. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Harris is sworn in as vice president. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman speaks at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Lady Gaga at the ceremony. Photo: Susan Walsh/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Biden greets former President Obama after his inauguration. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
The U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/pool/AFP via Getty Image
The Bidens at the ceremony. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images
Harris greets Vice President Mike Pence as she arrives at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Chief Justice John Roberts leads the U.S. Supreme Court Justices at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Greg Nash/pool/AFP via Getty Images
GOP Sen. Ted Cruz wearing a face mask that reads "Come and Take It", at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20. Cruz led a group of senators to oppose certifying state Electoral College votes for Biden. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Jan. 20. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Obama at the ceremony. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham at the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
National Guard members at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Sen. Bernie Sanders on the phone at the Capitol on Jan. 20. Photo: Saul Loeb/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao at the inauguration. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/pool/AFP via Getty Images
Pence at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush at the inauguration. Photo: Patrick Semansky/pool/AFP via Getty Images
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
The podium at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images.
Harris applauds as Biden arrives for his inauguration. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Read Biden's full inaugural speech:

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more photos.

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22-year-old poetry phenom Amanda Gorman lights up social media after inauguration

Photo/Patrick Semansky/AP

Amanda Gorman, 22, the country's first National Youth Poet Laureate, referenced everything from scripture to "Hamilton" — and echoed JFK and MLK — in a performance at the Biden-Harris swearing-in that captivated America.

Driving the news: In less than 24 hours, the L.A. resident went from under 100,000 Twitter followers @TheAmandaGorman to 1.1 million. She went from 206,000 Instagram followers to 2.2 million.

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Photo: Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Biden told congressional leadership in a letter Saturday that this week's airstrike against facilities in Syria linked to Iranian-backed militia groups was consistent with the U.S. right to self-defense.

Why it matters: Some Democrats, including Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), have criticized the Biden administration for the strike and demanded a briefing.

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The Food and Drug Administration on Saturday issued an emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson's one-shot coronavirus vaccine.

Why it matters: The authorization of a third coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. will help speed up the vaccine rollout across the country, especially since the J&J shot only requires one dose as opposed to Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's two-shot vaccines.

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