WASHINGTON- Jospeh Biden was sworn in as 46th president of the United States of America, replacing Donald Trump.
In his first presidential speech at Capitol Hill around a week after a charged mob attack the place, Biden said: “Democracy has prevailed”.
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered an oath to mask-wearing Biden in a brief ceremony amid coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris also made history by taking an oath, as she becomes the first female, black, and South Asian vice president of the US.
Trump did not attend the sworn-in ceremony of his successor as he had been claiming of rigging in elections.
However, outgoing vice president Mike Pence, former presidents including Barack Obama, vice presidents, and others were among the small group invited to the ceremony.
In the address, Biden said: “This is America’s Day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope”.
Joe Biden is sworn in, by Chief Justice Roberts, using a bible that has been in his family for over 200 years, as the 46th President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/k7gikJsSaF
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) January 20, 2021
“Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested and it has risen to the challenge. Today we celebrate a triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, a cause of democracy”
He said, “We learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile and at this moment, my friends, democracy has prevailed”.
“Now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.”
Besides calling to end racism in the country, he said: “We must have unity”.
He reiterated to “restore the soul of the future of America,” but added that the task “requires so much more than words”.
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“It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: Unity.”
He said that unity is essential for American greatness, besides asking people to stop the shouting and lower the temperatures. He highlighted that peace cannot be achieved without unity.
While referring to Republicans and Democrats, he also called for ending the “uncivil war” that pits red against blue”.
“The answer is not to turn inward, distrusting those who don’t look like you or worship the way you do or don’t get their news from the same source as you do.”
During the speech, he also observed a brief moment of silence for victims of the coronavirus.
Some 25,000 National Guards performed duty to protect the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by a small group of people unlike the previous ceremonies when hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered to mark the event.
