At noon on 20 January 2021, the tumultuous and divisive Trump term ended and Joe Biden, the former VP and longtime senator with working-class Scranton roots, became the 46th president of the United States.

The swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday was a stark reminder of the uphill challenges that the new president faces in office.

Washington DC is surrounded by a ring of steel and troops reminiscent of a war zone following an insurrectionist siege at the US Capitol by a pro-Trump mob earlier this month. Read Also: ‘A Very Happy Old Man’: Greta Thunberg Recycles Donald Trump’s Mockery of Her As He Leaves White House

And the capital, normally dotted with jubilant scenes on such a historic occasion, is strangely empty due to pandemic precautions.

We take a look at the defining images on the day the Biden era began.

Photo Credit: Getty