Biden inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States
On Jan. 20, Joe Biden was formally inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States. The inauguration occured without any issues, despite security concerns. The event had many star performances, including, but not limited to, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, Amanda Gorman and Jennifer Lopez.
Trump’s second impeachment trial is underway
Donald Trump’s second impeachment charge was delivered from the House of Representatives to the Senate on Jan. 18. The House of Representatives charged Trump with inciting violence and a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol building in early January. If Trump is convicted by the Senate, he would not only lose his pension from his former position as president, but also be barred from running for office again.
United States rejoins the Paris climate accord
On Jan. 21, the U.S. rejoined the Paris climate accord. Former president Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2017, facing national backlash and calls for environmental justice. President Biden is vowing to act definitively and quickly against climate change and his executive order to rejoin the agreement is the first action he took in keeping that pledge.
Amanda Gorman becomes the youngest poet to perform at a presidential inauguration
Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old American poet and activist, performed an original poem at the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris. The poem she wrote and read, titled “The Hill We Climb,” called for unity and understanding. Both Gorman and her poem have inspired many young activists and authors across the country.
