A day of history ..a day of hope
After four years of Trump’s hatred, Biden & Harris offer the US & the world a brighter future
JOE Biden’s inauguration ushered in a new era of hope yesterday as he vowed to unite an America torn apart by Donald Trump’s divisive reign that exploded into violence.
The 78-year-old ripped into his predecessor after he and deputy Kamala Harris, 56, were sworn in at the Capitol building, which two weeks ago was stormed by extremists protesting at his election win.
And although he appeared to blame Trump’s rhetoric for the shocking riots that left five people dead, Mr Biden’s overriding message was one of healing the gaping wounds caused by the former leader’s four years in charge, in what he branded an “uncivil war”.
Opening his address, the 46th US president – the oldest elected – said: “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.
PRECIOUS
“Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, a cause of democracy. The people – the will of the people – has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We’ve learned again that democracy’s precious, democracy’s fragile and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.”
Mr Biden took the oath after months of Trump refusing to concede defeat and launching a string of desperate legal challenges to November’s election result, that were all rejected, claiming millions of votes were “stolen” from him.
The bitter former president skulked out of Washington, DC after refusing to attend Mr Biden’s inauguration ceremony, the first ex-leader to snub a successor since Richard Nixon in 1974.
Although Mr Biden did not mention Trump by name, he spoke about false claims that led to the deadly violence at the Capitol on January 6.
He said: “Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth, and there are lies.”
Trump gave an incendiary speech before the riots that fuelled the rampage. He has since been impeached over his role.
Mr Biden enters the White House with the US in turmoil, ravaged by a Covid pandemic that Trump did not appear to take seriously, and an
economy in trouble. But he vowed to tackle the problems head on and sought to assure Americans – particularly those who did not vote for him – that he would fight as much for them as those who did.
Acknowledging the devastating 400,000 coronavirus death toll in a way Trump never did, he said: “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. Unity is the path forward.
“And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail. Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than now.
“To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words and requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy… unity. We must end this uncivil war that pits red [Republicans] against blue [Democrats], rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.
“We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.”
And while Trump spoke of “American carnage” in his inaugural speech, Mr Biden preferred to
concentrate on the positives. He said: “Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path.
“Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war.
“And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.”
Mr Biden took his oath of office swearing to “preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution” completing the process at 11.49am local time – 11 minutes before the president’s authority formally changed hands.
He was sworn in before a dramatically reduced crowd due to Covid restrictions and fears of further violence.
For days, Washington has been in partial lockdown, with more than
20,000 members of the National Guard patrolling the streets to prevent a repeat of the insurrection that breached the Capitol.
Mr Biden was watched by former leaders Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama.
Although the ceremony was closed to the public, it attracted a raft of stars.
Lady Gaga sang the Star-spangled
Banner. Jennifer Lopez then took to the podium where she added lines from her Let’s Get Loud hit into her version of America the Beautiful.
Country music star Garth Brooks performed Amazing Grace.
Before leaving the White House, Trump did continue the tradition of presidents leaving their successor a letter. Spokesman Judd Deere confirmed the note but did not release its contents. He said: “It’s a letter between 45 and 46.”
Mr Biden is expected to spend his first 24 hours in the White House undoing many of Trump’s policies in a bid “restore America’s place in the world”. The president is poised to rejoin the Paris Agreement on the climate crisis and rescind the Muslim travel ban immediately.
It is also claimed he is keen to patch things up with Britain and “knows how essential” the relationship is, despite his fears Brexit could derail the Good Friday Agreement.
Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire, destroying all in its path, or be total war
JOE BIDEN REFLECTS ON THE FOUR YEARS OF TRUMP’S REIGN