Washington: Celebrating Biden being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, as singer and actress Jennifer Lopez sang “America the Beautiful” and “This Land Is Your Land”, along with fellow artist Lady Gaga, who sang the US national anthem, former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton attended the ceremony. However, Donald Trump left Washington before the inauguration, walking on a red carpet on the White House lawn with his wife Melania to the Marine One presidential helicopter, which flew near the inauguration-ready Capitol before heading to Andrews Air Force Base on Washington’s outskirts.
“Democracy has prevailed,” newly inaugurated US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday in his maiden speech as he called on Americans “to defend the truth and defeat the lies”.
Speaking shortly after taking oath as the 46th President of the United States, 78-year-old Biden also pledged to repair America’s global allies, which suffered during his predecessor Donald Trump’s four-year regime.
“This is America’s day..democracy has prevailed,” Biden said, apparently referring to his Trump’s efforts to deny him victory in the November 3 election won by him.
“With unity we can do great things,” he said referring to the challenges ahead of him from fighting the coronavirus to addressing racial injustice.
“Unity is the path forward,” he asserted, laying out his vision to defeat the pandemic, build back better, and unify and heal the nation.
Biden asserted that he will be the president for all Americans, all those who voted for him and those who did not vote for him.
In his speech that lasted for 21 minutes, Biden praised Americans for rising to the challenge and reclaiming democracy. He mentioned the attempt to undo it at that exact location two weeks ago, and renewed his campaign goals of overcoming the pandemic, bringing racial justice and fighting climate change.
Biden also criticised those who have stoked anger and division, and asked those who opposed him to “hear me out.” He called out those who lie for political power and profit. “There is truth, and there are lies,” he added.
In a message to the international community, Biden said that he would rebuild the alliances frayed over the past four years. “We can make America once again the leading force of good in the world.”
“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,” he said.
“We will lead by the power of our example,” he said in his message to the international community. (PTI)
Biden to rescind Trump’s Muslim ban
Washington: On his first day in office, the news United States President, Joe Biden, has revealed his plans to issue a number of executive orders including rescinding the controversial ban on several predominantly Muslim countries.
The New York Times reported that a memo, circulated by Biden’s incoming White House chief of staff Ron Klain, said the new US administration will launch a spate of reversal on policies that were implemented by the outgoing president, Donald Trump.
In the first 10 days, the Biden administration will also revisit anti-coronavirus policies, rejoin the Paris Agreement and immigration legislation barring millions, mostly Muslims, from gaining citizenship.
Shortly after taking office in 2017, Trump issued an executive order banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States. The order was reworked several times amid legal battles a version of it was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.
