Joe Biden on Wednesday made an appeal for unity to Americans across the political spectrum in his inaugural address as the 46th president of the United States, seeking to turn the page on the divisions of the Trump era.

Biden described unity as the path forward in order to contain the coronavirus, restore the U.S. economy, address the effects of climate change, deliver racial justice and mend deep divisions that were laid bare over the last four years.

“To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity,” Biden said.

The difficulties Biden will face upon taking office were on full display at his swearing in. President Trump, who has refused to concede defeat, did not attend the inauguration. The Capitol complex was surrounded by fencing after pro-Trump rioters sought to halt the certification of results affirming Biden as president two weeks ago.

And attendance was scaled back for Wednesday’s festivities as the Biden team urged Americans to avoid traveling to Washington, D.C., amid the pandemic.

Still, Biden sought to project a sense of hope and expressed a belief that his administration would be able to govern for all Americans. He called for an end to “this un-civil war” that has pitted Americans against one another.

“We can see each other, not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect,” he said. “We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity there is no peace. Only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos.”

His remarks, which lasted roughly 20 minutes, represented an immediate effort to turn the page on the Trump administration, after four years of divisive rhetoric and politics under Trump. The speech drew sharp contrast with Donald Trump’s address four years before that painted a dark picture of the country and pledged to bring an end to “American carnage.”



You can read more here: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/535026-biden-urges-americans-to-joint-together-in-appeal-for-unity


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