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| The inauguration of Joe Biden |
Biden: We have "much to repair, much to restore, much to heal"
Newly minted President Joe Biden referenced the current plight of America during his inaugural address, noting that the country has "much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain."
As the coronavirus American death toll surpassed 400,000 this week, Biden noted that "few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now."
Speaking specifically of the Covid-19 pandemic, Biden referenced a "once-in-a-century virus, that silently stalks the country. It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II."
But amid tones of pain and strife, as "millions of jobs have been lost," and there exists a "cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making," Biden offered signs of hope.
"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 pledges to "repair our alliances and engage with the world once again"
President Joe Biden used his inaugural speech to send a message to the rest of the world about the US.
"Here's my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested, and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again," he said, vowing a change from the isolationist policies of his predecessor.
"We'll lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security," he added.
Many European leaders have tweeted their congratulations to the new administration and expressed their optimism at working together.
5 min ago
Biden vow to Americans: "I will always level with you"
Joe Biden vowed that as president, he will commit to being transparent to the American people in his closing remarks.
"My fellow Americans, I close today where I began, with the sacred oath before God and all of you, I give you my word. I will always level with you," he said during his inauguration address.
Biden promised to defend America for the "public good."
"I will defend the Constitution. I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America. And I'll give all, all of you, keep everything I do in your service, thinking not of power, but of possibilities. Not of personal interest, but the public good. And together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear, of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness," he said.
He ended on a message for Americans, saying that they met the moment.
"May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires and the stories that tell ages yet to come that we answered the call of history. We met the moment, democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch but thrived, that America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forebearers, one another and generations to follow. With purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time, sustain by faith, driven by conviction and devoted to one another and the country we love with all hearts," Biden said.
Nation's first youth poet laureate delivers message of America's resilience and strength
From CNN's Elise Hammond and Veronica Stracqualursi
Amanda Gorman, the nation's first-ever youth poet laureate, delivered a message of the country's resilience through her poem at President Biden's inauguration ceremony.
"Being American is more than a pride we inherit. It's the past we step into and how we repair it," Gorman said.
"We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be, a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will become the future," she continued.
Typically, Gorman, who is 22 years old, said it takes her days to craft a new poem. She finished this one immediately.
"We will rebuild, reconcile and recover," Gorman said in the poem.
Some background: Gorman is no stranger to grand stages. She's recited her poetry at the Library of Congress, Boston's Symphony Hall, the Empire State Building's observation deck and all across the country, performing for such luminaries as Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Gorman started writing poems when she was a child, but found it terrifying to perform due to a speech impediment. Biden has struggled with a stutter, Gorman said, and another inauguration poet Maya Angelou – who delivered the poetry reading for Bill Clinton's first inauguration – was mute for several years when she was a child.
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