WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden said his predecessor, Donald Trump, left him a “very generous letter” before leaving Washington ahead of his investiture Wednesday.
Biden told reporters at the Oval Office: “The president wrote a very generous letter. Since he was private, I won’t talk about it until I talk to him. ”
The statements came after Biden signed three executive actions, including a requirement for face masks on federal property and a measure that would reintroduce the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement.
The signing was Biden’s first press availability at the Oval Office, where some of the previous administration’s decor has been replaced. He sat at the Resolute desk, the same Trump desk, barack Obama and several other presidents have used. Busts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F Kennedy, whose careers inspired Biden’s work in public service, flanked the living room fireplace.
On a table behind the counter were images of Biden’s family and a bust of labor leader Cesar Chavez.
Trump left Washington early Wednesday and arrived at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, before Biden vowed to replace him at the White House.
After signing the shares, Biden swore in about 1,000 designated politicians in the White House and federal agencies, who participated by video conference in the East Room.
“We need to restore the soul of this country and I count on all of you,” he said. “In my opinion, we’ve gotten to a point where the American people, the blinds, have been removed.”
He said the government’s coronavirus vaccination program would be “the most consistent logistical thing ever done in the United States” and that his administration “can address this existential threat of climate change.”
But he also warned his appointees to lead with “an American core value: humility and trust.”
“If you ever work with me and I feel like treating another colleague with disrespect, talk to someone, I will fire you immediately. Without ifs, ands or goals, “Biden said.” Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and dignity. This has been largely lacking for the last four years. ”
In response to a question from a journalist, Biden said he is not worried about his candidates being confirmed to the cabinet. The Senate has not yet filled any of its positions in the cabinet.