Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has been sworn in as the 46th President of the United State of America while Kamala Harris has been sworn in as Vice President, the first female, Black, Asian-American elected to national office.
In his first presidential speech, Mr Biden made the call for more mutual respect in society, saying that unity is necessary for American greatness.
He said, “Stop the shouting and lower the temperatures,” “without unity there is no peace”.
“This is our moment, if we stand together, we cannot fail.”
“Let’s hear, see, tolerate and respect one another.”
“Unity is the path forward,” he continues.
The new US president also took time to acknowledge the inauguration of Kamala Harris, the first woman, black, Asian- American to become Vice President.
“Here we stand 108 years ago, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote.”
“Today we mark the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected vice-president – Kamala Harris.”
“Don’t tell me things can’t change,” he said.
He also spoke about racial justice.
“The forces that divide us are deep and they are real – but they are not new,” says Joe Biden
“The battle is perennial, and victory is never assured.”
“History, faith and reason show the way of unity,” he says.
We must meet this moment as the United States of America, he stresses.
Speaking of the challenges that his administration will face, including the pandemic and the rise of “white supremacy”, Biden says he will “confront and we will defeat” each obstacle.
He repeats his campaign vow to “restore the soul of the future of America,” but says doing so “requires so much more than words”.
“It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: Unity.”
BBC/Maxwell Oyekunle
