President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, their spouses and some family members on Thursday virtually attended the traditional national inaugural prayer service from the White House, while socially distanced and wearing masks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A day after they were sworn in at the Capitol, Biden and Harris listened to faith leaders from across the country on TV screens set up around the State Dining Room.
Biden sat next to his wife, Jill Biden, and Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff sat to their right in their own row.
Neither spoke, but Biden gave a quick fist bump during the singing of the national anthem by Patti LaBelle as the group all stood.
Family members sat behind the two couples in the room.
The religious leaders offered prayers, quoted scriptures and offered words of encouragement and hope at the service that dates back to the inauguration of George Washington.
Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff bow their heads durng a prayer service on January 21, 2021, inside the white House. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesBiden, the second Catholic to become president after John F. Kennedy, regularly attends Mass.
He attended pre-inauguration services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a show of unity.
