Biden seen for first time on inauguration day, after letting Trump finish his goodbye

President-elect will be inaugurated at noon on Wednesday

President-elect Joe Biden was seen for the first time on the day of his inauguration as he attended mass at St Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Mr Biden appeared to delay his departure to the church on Wednesday morning to allow Donald Trump to finish his goodbye speech and depart the White House for the last time.

Speaking at Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to his Florida home, Mr Trump said the new administration has the “foundation to do something really spectacular,” but did not mention Mr Biden by name.

Read more: Follow live updates and news on Inauguration Day 2021

Mr Biden arrived at St Matthew’s Cathedral at around 8.55am, which was 10 minutes later than was initially scheduled as Mr Trump delayed his final remarks before boarding Air Force One.

The next US president was joined at the church service by congressional leaders, including House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who snubbed Mr Trump’s departure from the White House to attend.

Mr Biden was also joined by his wife Dr Jill Biden, alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff, for the traditional church service on the morning of the inauguration ceremony.

Mr Biden is just the second Catholic US president. St Matthew’s Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.

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The service is being held just 10 blocks away from the White House, which will become Mr Biden’s home from Wednesday afternoon.