On Wednesday afternoon, the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, and his Vice President, Kamala Harris, were sworn in at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. Due to the COVID pandemic and the storming of the Capitol earlier in the month, the general public were barred from entering the national mall, and it was only open to the national guard and politicians with one guest. For everyone else, the inauguration was under a virtual format.

During the President’s inauguration speech, one of the key themes he focused on was restoring national unity after a rough year and election cycle, saying, “Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together. Uniting our people. And uniting our nation.” The speech was even given some praise from Fox News, a typically conservative leaning network, with news anchor Chris Wallace saying, “I’ve been listening to these inaugural addresses since 1961– John F. Kennedy, ‘ask not.’ I thought this was the best inaugural address I’ve ever heard.” Not everyone was impressed though, with many conservatives saying the words rang hollow after many left wing politicians attempted to group all Republican voters with the rioters on the Capitol earlier in the month, claiming they were ‘complicit’ and that their actions led to the violence.

President Biden also visited Arlington National Cemetery with former presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. On top of that, he signed numerous executive orders, even overturning some of President Trump’s biggest priorities. But when the spectacle and awe is over, and the dust settles, what exactly can the American people expect from the Biden Administration? It’s hard to tell, but here’s a few things that we may see in the future.

Calmer Media Coverage:

It’s no secret that the new president is not a spring chicken, being the oldest president ever inaugurated, and also had numerous gaffes throughout the campaign trail that called his mental fitness into question. It’s not all bad though, as the new president seems far less likely to make controversial statements than his predecessor, and his old age may deter him from making as many public appearances in the event he forgets what he was saying or makes a gaffe. As a result, it seems expected that the media coverage will not be nearly as heated as it was with the Trump Administration. Major media outlets such as CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, the New York Times, and the Washington Post are also typically more favorable towards democrats than they are towards republicans, and Joe Biden is a democratic president, leading people to believe stories will be painted in a rosier light.

An Eventual Economic Recovery:

It’s inevitable, and it’s going to happen eventually,  but most people predict the economy will rebound at some point over the next four years. How fast will it come is the real question. President Biden has promised a more regulated economy and an expansion of social programs, requiring higher taxes in order to pay for his plans, mainly paid for by the rich but also the middle class. Economists for years have noted that higher taxes discourage business growth, as the cost to operate and comply with the restrictive regulations would serve as a deterrence to investing in the country, and that rich people who operate big businesses and create many jobs would move to countries like China with extremely loose regulations in order to operate as efficiently as possible and  to maximize their profit, leaving less jobs for Americans. However, defenders of the Biden plan would claim there are more protections for workers and that an expanded social safety net would help long term growth, as well as giving more job security to the working class, especially after a pandemic. A short term recovery is not expected under his campaign plan, but a long term one may come if the Biden Administration plays their cards right.

Reversal of Trump Era Immigration Policy:

During the 2016 campaign, President Trump famously touted building a massive wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and adopted many strict policies on illegal immigration. It’s looking like the new president plans to reverse those policies and have a more relaxed approach to immigrants seeking citizenship. Nobody suspects he’ll tear down the wall, but that he will take more refugees, admitting both legal and illegal immigrants into the country  in higher numbers. An amnesty bill also seems to be in the works, if there is large enough bipartisan agreement. Whether he’ll be able to pass full citizenship for millions of immigrants is up in the air, as democrats in the legislature may decide to vote against it, and republicans are almost certain to filibuster the bill if proposed. If passed, it would be an irreversible and monumental change to the electorate and culture of the country.

In conclusion, the next four years will be interesting to say the least, and there will be challenges the new administration will have to face. Regardless of anyone’s political feelings, the best we can hope for as a country is that the new president will lead our country well and create success for Americans, and that Biden’s hope for national unity comes to fruition in a way where both progressives and conservatives are happy.