‘It is about time’: In ancient first, 2 tough girls flank US president

US President Joe Biden’s cope with to Congress broke a ancient glass ceiling on Wednesday, as two girls – Vice President Kamala Harris and Space Speaker Nancy Pelosi – sat in the back of the president for the primary time in U.S. historical past.

The seating association carried a symbolic which means for the development of U.S. girls in fresh many years, since Harris and Pelosi stand first and 2nd within the presidential line of succession, respectively.

Harris, the primary lady and the primary Black and Asian particular person to function vp, sat to Biden’s proper. Pelosi, who turned into the primary lady speaker of the Space of Representatives in 2007, sat to his left.

The 2 girls are enjoying an important position within the early days of the Biden presidency, with Harris as a detailed adviser and tie-breaker in an calmly divided Senate and Pelosi serving to to marshal the president’s legislative time table thru Congress.

Biden spoke to a joint consultation of the Space and Senate with attendance limited to put in force social distancing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Harris arrived forward of Biden and Pelosi affectionately took the vp’s hand as she reached the dais earlier than temporarily switching to a pandemic-appropriate elbow bump.

“Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President,” Biden mentioned as he addressed the group. “No president has ever mentioned the ones phrases from this podium, no president has ever mentioned the ones phrases. And it is about time!”