-
Advertisement
Joe Biden’s China policy
China

Biden inauguration: new US president pledges to unify a tense, divided nation while fighting a pandemic

  • ‘Democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed,’ President Joe Biden says
  • He vows to prioritise fighting the coronavirus that has killed 400,000 Americans; Donald Trump leaves Washington before inauguration ceremonies

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
99+
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US president of the United States on Wednesday at the Capitol in Washington. Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, holds the Bible he is swearing on as Chief Justice John Roberts of the US Supreme Court administers the oath of office. Photo: AFP
Jacob Fromerin Washington
Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, taking on the daunting task of trying to heal a nation that has been battered over the last year by a pandemic, economic malaise, political violence and incessant attacks on America’s democratic institutions by the man he is succeeding, Donald Trump.
In a 21-minute inaugural address that sought to unify a tense and divided America, President Biden called on the country to “lower the temperature” or else risk destroying itself.

“We have learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile,” Biden said in his speech, moments after he took his oath of office, standing on a platform that two weeks earlier had been overrun by a violent crowd of Trump loyalists trying to stop the certification of Biden’s victory. “And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.”

Advertisement
US President Joe Biden said ‘we must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal’. Photo: AFP
US President Joe Biden said ‘we must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal’. Photo: AFP

“We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal,” he said.

Advertisement

“Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground,” he said.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x