Joe Biden Sets Out One Rule Staffers Will Be Fired 'On The Spot' If They Break

Joe Biden has warned his staff they will be fired 'on the spot' if they break one key rule. Watch here:

The 78-year-old became the 46th President of the United States yesterday (20 January) after he was sworn in at the Capitol, and it was a celebratory day for millions of Americans.

But Biden broke with the jubilant Lady Gaga and fireworks-fuelled tone when virtually swearing in hundreds of presidential staff, sternly warning them they would get the sack if they are rude.

Speaking at the White House, he said: "I'm not joking when I say this, 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. On the spot. No ifs, ands or buts.

"Everybody, everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity."

He continued: "We have to restore the soul of this country and I'm counting on all of you to be part of that. And it's not hyperbole. The only thing I expect with absolute certitude is honesty and decency."

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So even the brief departure from the happy clappy vibes was to reiterate the importance he places on manners and equality.

Biden has adopted a markedly different tone to his predecessor Donald Trump since he won the election in November.

In his inaugural address, Biden said: "My whole soul is in this, bringing America together.

"I ask every American to join me in this cause. To fight the foes we face: anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness.

"With unity, we can do great things, important things, we can right wrongs.

"We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world."

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He continued: "I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. I will defend our democracy. I will defend America.

"I will give my all in your service thinking not of power, but of possibilities. Not of personal interest, but of the public good.

"And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness.

"An American story of decency and dignity. Of love and of healing. Of greatness and of goodness.

"May this be the story that guides us. The story that inspires us. The story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history."

Topics: joe biden, US News, Politics

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey