Chief Justice Roberts, Vice-President Harris
Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell,
Vice-President Pence. My distinguished guests, my fellow Americans.
This is America's day.
This is democracy's day. A day of history and hope of renew and resolve
Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested a new and America has risen to the challenge.
Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, a cause of democracy.
The people - the will of the people - has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded.
We've learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and, at this hour my friends, democracy has prevailed.
So now on this hallowed ground where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the capital's very foundation
we come together as one nation under God - indivisible - to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.
As we look ahead in our uniquely American way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.
I thank my predecessors of both parties.
I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
And I know
And I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation,
as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night who cannot be with us today
but whom we salute for his lifetime in service
I've just taken a sacred oath each of those patriots have taken.
The oath first sworn by George washington.
But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us.
On we the people who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation, we are good people.
And over the centuries through storm and strife in peace and in war we've come so far.
But we still have far to go.
We'll press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibility.
Much to do, much to heal, much to restore, much to build and much to gain.
Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged
or found a time more challenging more difficult than the time we're in now.
A once in a century virus that silently stalks the country has taken as many lives in one year.
As america lost in all of World War Two.
Millions of jobs have been lost.
Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed.
A cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves us.
The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.
A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now.
The rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism, that we must confront and we will defeat.
To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words.
requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy
unity unity
In another January on New Year's Day in 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
When he put pen to paper the president said, and I quote,
if my name ever goes down into history it'll be for this act and my whole soul is in it .
My whole soul is in it today, on this January day.
My whole soul is in this.
Bringing America together, uniting our people uniting in our nation.
And I ask every American to join me in this cause.
Uniting to fight the foes we face - anger, resentment and hatred.
Extremism,lawlessness violence disease joblessness and hopelessness.
With unity we can do great things important things we can right wrongs we can put people to work in good jobs,
we can teach our children in safe schools.
We can overcome the deadly virus,
we can reward reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all
We can deliver racial justice and we can make america once again the leading force for good in the world.
I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days.
I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real.
But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal,
that we are all created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear .
Have long torn us apart the battle is perennial and victory is never assured.
Through civil war, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbackour better angels have always prevailed.
In each of our moments enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward and we can do that now.
History, faith and reason show the way. The way of unity.
the way of unity we can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors we can treat
each other with dignity and respect 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 this is our historic moment of crisis and challenge
and unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the united states of america
if we do that i guarantee you we will not fail we have never ever ever ever failed in america
we've acted together and so today at this time in this place let's start afresh
all of us let's begin to listen to one another again hear one another see one another show
respect to one another politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in his path
every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war
and we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured
my fellow americans we have to be different than this america has to be
better than this and i believe america is so much better than this just look around
here we stand in the shadow of the capital dome as was mentioned earlier completed amid the civil war
when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance yet we endured we prevailed here we stand
looking out in the great mall where dr king spoke of his dream here we stand we're 108 years ago at
another inaugural thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote
and today we mark the swearing into the first woman in american history
elected to national office vice president kamala harris don't tell me things can't change
can we stand across the potomac from arlington cemetery where heroes who gave the last full
measure of devotion rest in eternal peace and here we stand just days after a riotous mom
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
it did not happen it will never happen not today not tomorrow not ever not
to ever those who supported our campaign i'm humbled by the faith you placed in us
to all those who did not support us let me say this hear me out as we move forward
take a measure of me and my heart if you still disagree so be it that's democracy that's america
the right to dissent peaceably than the guard rails of our republic is perhaps this nation's
greatest strength yet hear me clearly this agreement must not lead to disunion
and i pledge this to you i will be a president for all americans all americans
and i promise you i will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did
many centuries ago saint augustine a saint of my church wrote that the people was a multitude
defying by the common objects of their love defined by the common objects of their love
what are the common objects we as americans love that define us as americans i think we know
opportunity security liberty dignity respect honor and yes the truth
recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson there is truth and there are lies
lies told for power and for profit and each of us has a duty and a responsibility
as citizens as americans especially as leaders leaders who have pledged to honor our constitution
and protect our nation to defend the truth and defeat the lies look
i understand that many of my fellow americans view the future
with fear and trepidation i understand they worry about their jobs
i understand like my dad they lay in bed staring at the night staring at the ceiling wondering
can i keep my health care can i pay my mortgage thinking about their families
about what comes next i promise you i get it but the answer is not to turn inward to
retreat into competing factions distrusting those who don't look like look like you
or worship the way you do or don't get their news from the same sources you do
we must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue rural versus ireland or rural versus urban
conservative versus liberal we can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts
if we show a little tolerance and humility and if we're willing to stand in the other
person's shoes as my mom would say just for a moment stand in their shoes
because here's the thing about life
there's no accounting for what fate will deal you
some days when you need a hand there are other days when we're called to lend a hand
that's how it has to be this is what we do for one another and if we are this way our country will be
stronger more prosperous more ready for the future and we can still disagree my fellow americans
and the work ahead of us we're going to need each other we need all our strength to preserve
to persevere through this dark winter we're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest
period of the virus we must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation
one nation and i promise you this as the bible says we be may endure for a night
but joy cometh in the morning we will get through this together together
look folks all my colleagues i serve with in the house and the senate up here
we all understand the world is watching
watching all of us today so here's my message of 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
not to meet yesterday's challenges but today's and tomorrow's challenges
and will 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
look you all know we've been through so much in this nation
and my first act as president i'd like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer remember
all those who we lost in this past year to the pandemic those four hundred thousand
fellow americans moms dads husbands wives sons daughters friends neighbors and co-workers will
honor them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be so i ask you let's
say a silent prayer for those who've lost their lives and those left behind and for our country
amen folks this is a time of testing we face an attack under democracy and on truth a raging virus
growing inequity the sting of systemic racism a climate in crisis america's role in the world
any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways but the fact is we face
them all at once presenting this nation with one of the greatest responsibilities we've had
now we're going to be tested are we going to step up all of us it's time for boldness
for there's so much to do and this is certain i promise you we will be judged you and i by how
we resolve these cascading crises of our era we will rise to the occasion is the question will we
master this rare and difficult hour when we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better
world to our children i believe we must i'm sure you do as well i believe we will and when we do
we'll write the next great chapter in the history of the united states of america the american story
a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me it's called american anthem
there's one verse that stands out at least for me and it goes like this the work and prayers of the
century have brought us to this day what shall be our legacy what will our children say let me know
in my heart when my days are through america america i gave my best to you
let's add let's us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation
if we do this then when our days are through our children and our children's children will save us
they gave their best they did their duty they healed the broken land
my fellow americans i closed the day where i began
with the sacred oath before god and all of you i give you my word i will always level with you
i will defend the constitution i will defend our democracy i'll defend america and i'll give
all all of you keep everything you i do in your service thinking not of power but of possibilities
not a 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 may this be the story that guides us the story that inspires us
and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history we met the moment
democracy and hope truth and justice did not die in our watch but thrive
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 generation to follow so
with purpose and resolve we turn to those tasks of our time sustained by faith
driven by conviction devoted to one another and the country we love
with all our hearts may god bless america and may god protect our troops thank you
america
you