US President Joe Biden said today in his inauguration speech that “democracy has prevailed” after the disturbing policies and actions of predecessor Donald Trump.
After being sworn in as the 46th president in US history, Biden said, “We celebrate the triumph of a cause, the cause of democracy. It is fragile, precious. Democracy has prevailed.“
“It is a historic day of hope, of renewal and resolution,” he added.
Biden referred to the turbulent days that the country has experienced after the violent assault on the US Capitol on January 6 by a mob of supporters of former President Trump.
He acknowledged that there is still much to do to heal the country’s wounds, and called for confronting “political extremism, white supremacism, and domestic terrorism,” which he assured that he will defeat.
He asked Americans to follow the “path of unity” to overcome the multiple crises facing the country, because without it “there is only bitterness and fury.”
The inauguration was held with a small audience due to the protocols to prevent COVID-19 infections, and a level of security unprecedented in the country’s history, with up to 25,000 military personnel deployed in Washington D.C.
Breaking with tradition, Trump did not attend the inauguration ceremony of his successor, and headed to his private mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, the state where he arrived shortly before the start of the ceremony.
Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence did attend the event, which was also attended by the majority of US legislators and former presidents, such as Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.