joe biden has been sworn in as the 46th
president of the united states
in a ceremony on capitol hill in
washington d.c
the very place stormed by supporters of
donald trump
just a fortnight ago and with that
violence still fresh in people's minds
there was unprecedented security and far
fewer people than usual
because of the pandemic well the new
president declared
that democracy had prevailed and he
pledged to defend the constitution
while urging americans to overcome their
differences in the search for unity
at mr biden's side his vice president
kamala harris
the first woman the first black american
the first person of south asian descent
to hold the nation's second highest
office
conspicuous by his absence was the
outgoing president
donald trump who'd flown to florida
earlier in the day
while promising his fans to be back in
some form
we'll be looking at the new president's
agenda and what it means for u.s
relations
with the rest of the world but we start
with the events of the day with our
north america editor
john soppel
hugh donald trump left the white house
for the last time
this morning after that an army of
cleaners went in to spruce the place up
and then about an hour ago joe biden
arrived with his own broom
to sweep away a lot of the trump era
policies
the change is going to be profound
so far so normal ladies and gentlemen
the president-elect of the united states
this is what america does every four
years but everything about today was
exceptional given the last two weeks
given the pandemic given the security
situation
given the presidency that was ending
at first glance the west front of the
capital looks much
as it always does on inauguration day
but look the other way towards the
washington monument
and the normal forest of people has been
replaced by a garden of flags
a socially distant inauguration for a
nation tearing itself
apart and repeat after me the oath of
office taken by the man who's now tasked
with healing the nation's wounds
joseph robinette biden jr do solemnly
swear
that i will faithfully execute that i
will faithfully execute
the office of president of the united
states office of president of the united
states
the platform where he stood two weeks
ago was the staging post for the assault
on congress
then the mob ruled today democracy had
come through
but it was a close run thing we've
learned again
that democracy is precious democracy is
fragile
at this hour my friends democracy has
prevailed
he warned america was in the midst of a
winter of peril and as any new president
had to confront such an array of
problems
covered economic turbulence racial
unrest
and the passions inflamed by donald
trump's insistence
that the election was stolen today
on this january day my whole soul is in
this bringing america together
uniting our people united in our nation
and i ask every american to join me in
this
cause
joe biden never mentioned donald trump
by name but it was a firm repudiation of
all that he stood for
though he was careful to reach out to
the former president's supporters
we must end this uncivil war
that pits read 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
at 78 years old joe biden becomes the
oldest man to become president
but the real history is being made by
his deputy kamala harris
the first woman vice president the first
of black and indian heritage
an example of the american dream so help
me god so help me god
though kovid has brought drabness this
inauguration had sparkle
with lady gaga complete with gold
microphone singing the national anthem
[Music]
and jennifer lopez too
the political good and great were out in
force three former presidents were in
attendance
republican and democrat and former vice
president mike pence was there as well
choosing the inauguration over a rival
attraction
a few miles away and that's because
donald trump
had decided to break with 150 years of
tradition
and snub joe biden
normally the outgoing president meets
the successor at the front door
and rides with him to the capitol but mr
trump was slipping out the back
still incapable of accepting that he
lost the election
though the former reality tv host turned
film director
to try to orchestrate his own departure
he awarded himself a military send-off
complete with 21 gun salute
and his parting shot will have delighted
his supporters
and horrified his detractors a goodbye
we love you we will be back in some form
and the music was spot on as he flew off
on air force one for the last time
it was
by the time now ex-president trump
arrived in florida
melania had gone from somber black to
beach club chic
never comfortable in washington she
might find the transformation
a whole lot easier than her husband
joe biden is now in the white house and
he wants to hit the ground running
there'll be a flurry of executive orders
to reverse a lot of trump-era policies
but policies always change with a new
president what will be so different
is the manner of governing crazy town
is likely to be replaced by dullsville
but maybe that's what america
needs right now john sopel bbc news
washington