President Joe Biden gave a stark warning to the nearly 1,000 federal employees and staff he appointed on his first day in office.
Be respectful to colleagues, he said, or you’re out.
"If you're ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you, I will fire you on the spot," Mr Biden said in a virtual ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House. He spoke from behind a lectern, while the appointees appeared at the event via video streams set up on a series of television screens.
He reminded them that “we work for the people” and called on them to be “decent, honourable and smart”.
The message contrasted with the previous administration with a president accused by critics of misogyny, belittling opponents, disrespecting the public and his office. There were also reports from within the White House of commonplace bullying by senior officials – something denied by the administration.
The new president also told the group that “we have such an awful lot to do” and said that containing the pandemic and administering Covid-19 vaccines will be the “most consequential logistical thing that’s ever been done in the United States”.
He said he expected “to make mistakes” but promised during the swearing in that he will “acknowledge them” when he does.
US President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential inauguration in Washington. Reuters
President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. Reuters
President Joe Biden swears in presidential appointees in a virtual ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House. Reuters
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wave as they arrive at the North Portico of the White House. AP Photo
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill embrace as they arrive to the White House. Reuters
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk up the stairs as they arrive at the North Portico of the White House. AP Photo
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and family, walk in front of the White House. AP Photo
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. AP Photo
Former President Bill Clinton with his wife, former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush with his wife Laura Bush, and former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama at the Arlington National Cemetery. Reuters
US President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her husband Doug Emhoff look on as they leave the US Capitol after the inauguration ceremony. Reuters
US President Joe Biden signs documents in the President's Room at the US Capitol following the inauguration ceremony. Bloomberg
Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, wave from the Capitol steps as former Vice President Mike Pence's motorcade departs. AP Photo
US President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential inauguration in Washington. Reuters
US President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States during the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington. Bloomberg
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States as his spouse Jill Biden holds a bible on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, DC. Reuters
Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as her husband Doug Emhoff holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AP
Social distancing audience during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States. Reuters
Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem at the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. AFP
Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem as US Vice President Mike Pence and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris look on. Reuters
From left: Doug Emhoff, US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, incoming US First Lady Jill Biden, US President-elect Joe Biden arrive for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th US President at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP
Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrive for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden. AP Photo
Former US President Bill Clinton arrives with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol. AFP
Former US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush arrive for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the US Capitol. Reuters
Family members of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris attend the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol. AFP
The view from the podium where Joe Biden will speak after being sworn-in during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. EPA
Flags decorate the "Field of Flags" at the National Mall near the Washington Monument ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. AFP
President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden attend a church service before his presidential inauguration at St Matthews Catholic Church in Washington. Reuters
President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attend a church service before his presidential inauguration at St. Matthews Catholic Church. Reuters
The West Front of the US Capitol is prepared for the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden in Washington, DC. AFP
US singer Lady Gaga arrives for the inauguration of Joe Biden as US President in Washington, DC. EPA
Supporters hold American flags as Air Force One, carrying US President Donald Trump, departs during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Bloomberg
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave to a crowd as they board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. AP Photo
President Donald Trump speaks to crowd before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. AP Photo
The sun rises behind the US Capitol as preparations are made prior to the 59th inaugural ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington. AFP
Meanwhile, after arriving, Mr Biden said that Donald Trump had left him a “very generous letter” before leaving Washington before the inauguration on Wednesday.
“The president wrote a very generous letter. Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him,” he said.
The remarks came after Mr Biden signed three executive actions, including a requirement to wear face masks on federal property and a measure that would re-enter the US into the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The signing was the first time since being sworn in that Mr Biden had been available to the press in the Oval Office, where some decor from the previous administration has been replaced.
He sat at the Resolute desk, the same desk Mr Trump, Barack Obama and several other presidents have used.
Busts of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F Kennedy, whose careers inspired Mr Biden’s work in public service, flanked the room’s fireplace.
On a table behind the desk were pictures of Mr Biden’s family and a bust of the labour leader Cesar Chavez.
Mr Trump left Washington early on Wednesday and arrived at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, before Mr Biden was sworn in to replace him in the White House.
Meanwhile, the president’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, held her first news conference just seven hours after Mr Biden's inauguration, vowing to bring truth and transparency back to government.
While Mr Trump and his top aides had an often stormy relationship with what they called "the fake news media", Ms Psaki pledged a professional, civil exchange.
"There will be moments when we disagree, and there will certainly be days where we disagree for extensive parts of the briefing,” she said. "But we have a common goal, which is sharing accurate information with the American people."
Mr Biden plans to "bring transparency and truth back to the government to share the truth, even when it's hard to hear", she said.
Ms Psaki said she expected to hold daily briefings at the White House on weekdays, and to make health officials available to explain efforts to get the Covid-19 pandemic under control.
Under Mr Trump, the White House banned news organisations it viewed as too critical from briefings and moved to off-camera gaggles instead of daily televised news briefings.
