The inauguration of Joe Biden

President Joe Biden exited the Beast, the presidential vehicle, and walked to the White House, alongside first lady Jill Biden and their family.

Biden briefly stopped to greet DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on the sidelines.

Watch the moment:

The inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to honor President Joe Biden's incoming administration is largely a virtual one. 

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to receive a presidential escort from 15th Street to the White House including the US Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard and the commander in chief's Guard and Fife Drum Corps.

Every branch of the military will be represented in the presidential escort, according to the inaugural committee.

The drumlines from the University of Delaware and Howard University will join that event to honor the alma maters of the new president and vice president.

The inaugural committee is also hosting a "virtual parade across America," which will feature performances in communities across the country — much like the virtual program at the Democratic National Convention, which was forced to go online over the summer in efforts to keep the virus from spreading.

According to a Presidential Inaugural Committee news release, the parade will feature "diverse, dynamic performances in communities in all 56 states and territories, celebrate America’s heroes, and highlight the diversity, heritage, and resilience of the country."

Here's what comes next after the parade:

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ alma maters, University of Delaware and Howard University, will be represented at the inauguration with both schools’ drumlines scheduled to perform live from Washington.

They will escort Biden and Harris from 15th Street to the White House and help kick off the "Parade Across America" with live performances.

According to a Presidential Inaugural Committee news release, the parade will feature "diverse, dynamic performances in communities in all 56 states and territories, celebrate America’s heroes, and highlight the diversity, heritage, and resilience of the country."

Joe Biden was sworn in today in DC and became the 46th president of the United States.

He was sworn in on a 19th century family Bible that has been in the Biden family since 1893.

In his address today, Biden spoke about unity following the Jan. 6 US Capitol attack and called on Americans to come together.

"Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path," Biden said. "We have to be different than this. America has to be better than this."

"I will be a president for all Americans," Biden said. "I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as those who did."

You can read his full address here.

A lot of analysis will note that President Joe Biden has wanted this job for a long time. After all, his first run for the White House ended in 1987. 

But it’s important to realize that Biden’s bid for the presidency looked destined to fail a year ago. 

Biden came in fourth place in the Iowa caucuses and a distant fifth place in the New Hampshire primary. You won’t find another president who did as poorly in both contests in the modern era. Then he came in second in the Nevada caucuses.

Numerous models had Biden’s shot of winning the Democratic nomination down to 10% to 15% during this time period.

Biden, however, persevered. He won the South Carolina primary and rolled on Super Tuesday. 

Soon after, the coronavirus pandemic came into full focus. It remains the No. 1 problem for the Biden administration to tackle.  

Presidential historian Timothy Naftali reminded viewers of the significance of the Tomb of the Unknown soldier in Arlington Cemetery, as President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were joined by three former presidents — Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — in a wreath-laying ceremony.

Naftali said the moment also served as a reminder that the might of America's military belongs to the people that it had withstood any attempts to corrupt its purpose in the previous four years. 

"When the history of the last four years is written, the story of our military and how it generally lived up to the highest principles of its tradition, despite the pressure to be corrupted will be a powerful story," he said. "I think it's also appropriate that this laying on of hands of the former presidents with President Biden is occurring at a national sacred spot also at the beating heart of our military."

Watch:

Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, said that Joe Biden is made for this moment.

“I think that the moment and the man are made for each other,” Clinton said.

Clinton said she was “relieved and grateful” to be able to attend inauguration. 

“I was so relieved and grateful that we were able to celebrate the transfer of power in a peaceful way, which has been a hallmark of our country,” Clinton said. “It meant a great deal to so many Americans to see the ceremony conducted on the platform where just a few weeks ago marauders and terrorists had been attempting to stop democracy, so it really lifted my heart.”

Talking further about why Biden is the right leader for the moment, Clinton said “he brings a deep sense of empathy, rising out of his own personal experiences. But it's a clear part of his character to listen to people, to people, try to lift people up. And I think our country right now needs a caring, compassionate, empathetic leader. And Joe Biden is all of that.”

On Kamala Harris becoming a historic vice president, Clinton said she was "thrilled." 

“But I was also delighted because she's a friend of mine. I am convinced she's going to be a terrific partner to Joe Biden and, you know, really put all of her experience and the expertise to work on behalf of the American people. I don't think we could ask for anything more," she said. 

Following their inauguration ceremony earlier today, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Arlington National Cemetery where they were joined by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Here's a look at what events come next:

Read more about today's events here.

It’s no secret President Joe Biden is a creature of the Senate, but given the significant policy pushes they plan to make, it is notable that his team has already started laying the groundwork for the bipartisan cooperation he has said he wants.

Sources say his economic team has briefed lawmakers in both chambers, some on an individual basis, over the course of the last several days, as they attempt to lay the groundwork for their stimulus proposal. 

Biden’s legislative affairs team is packed with respected Hill vets – Shuwanza Goff on the House side and Reema Dodin on the Senate side – who will play a huge role in what, if anything, gets accomplished in the coming weeks and months on legislation. 

What to watch: Pay attention to the executive actions today and over the next several days. But make no mistake – Biden’s team is laying the groundwork for a major legislative push, and they’ve staffed up in a way they think will give them a real opportunity to get something done.