just a white house in 2021, just a couple of weeks after the january the sick insurrection, only about a third of americans recognise him as their president. how have these numbers changed? —— january the 6th place. numbers changed? -- january the 6th lace. , , , ., 6th place. these numbers have chanced 6th place. these numbers have changed very — 6th place. these numbers have changed very little. _ 6th place. these numbers have changed very little. swathes i 6th place. these numbers have changed very little. swathes of| changed very little. swathes of people still believe donald trump actually won the election. those numbers have remained quite consistent throughout the last couple of years. in throughout the last couple of ears. ,, ., , years. in the united states, we are facing _ years. in the united states, we are facing an — years. in the united states, we are facing an interesting - are facing an interesting mid—term coming up, pennsylvania is one of those swing states. in light of him being at independence mall, is this may be a political stunt for him in this state which, if the democrats don't win, really

could change the complex of congress? 1 could change the complex of congress?— could change the complex of concress? ~ . ., congress? i think what we are likel to congress? i think what we are likely to see. _ congress? i think what we are likely to see, certainly - congress? i think what we are likely to see, certainly in - likely to see, certainly in this speech, and absolutely, it's no surprise he has chosen this location, but i think what we are likely to see in the coming weeks and indeed over the next couple of years leading up to the next presidential election is both joe biden and whoever is the candidate for the republicans choosing those key states, florida of course is another huge state with a huge number of seats available to go towards the next presidency... those will be the location is that both candidates will be choosing, because as we know from the last election, this country is pretty much equally divided. it only takes one or two of those states, those flashpoints, really, in terms of public opinion, to change the outcome of a presidential election. ., ., election. peter, we are now seeinu election. peter, we are now seeing the _ election. peter, we are now

seeing the doors _ election. peter, we are now seeing the doors open - election. peter, we are now seeing the doors open at i seeing the doors open at independence mall. we expect to see presidentjoe biden addressed the nation. see president joe biden addressed the nation. please welcome the _ addressed the nation. please welcome the president - addressed the nation. please welcome the president of. addressed the nation. please| welcome the president of the united — welcome the president of the united states and doctorjill biden — fanfare.

my my fellow americans. please, if you have a seat, take it. i speak to you tonight from sacred ground in america. independence hall in philadelphia, pennsylvania. this is where america made its declaration of independence to the world more than two centuries ago. with an idea unique among nations. that, in america, we are all created equal. this is where the united states constitution was written and debated. this is where we set in motion the most extraordinary experiment or

self—government the world has ever known. with three simple words, we, the people. we, the people. these two documents and the ideas they embody, equality and democracy, are the rock upon which this nation is built. they are how we became the greatest nation on earth. they are why, for more than two centuries, america had been a beacon to the world. as i stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault. we do ourselves no favour to pretend otherwise. so tonight, i have come to this place where it all began to speak as plainly as i can to the nation. about the threats we face,

about the power we have in our own hands to meet these threats. and about the incredible future that lies in front of us, if only we choose it. we must neverforget, we, the people, are the true heirs of the american experiment that began more than two centuries ago. we, the people, have burning inside of each of us the flame of liberty that was lit here at independence hall. the flame that lit our way through the abolition, civil war, suffrage, the great depression, world wars, civil rights, that sacred flame still burns. now in our time, as we build an america that is more prosperous, free and just, that

is the work of my presidency, a mission i believe in with my whole soul. but first, we must be honest with each other and with ourselves. too much of what's happening in our country todayis what's happening in our country today is not normal. donald trump and the maga republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic. i want to be very clear... applause. very clear up front. not every republican, not even the majority of republicans are maga republicans. not every republican embraces their extreme ideology. i know, because i have been able to work with these mainstream republicans. but there is no question, the republican party todayis question, the republican party today is dominated, driven and intimidated by donald trump

andy maga republicans, and that is a threat to this country. —— and the maga republicans. these are hard things, but i am the american president, not a president of red america, blue america, but of all america. and i believe it is my duty to level with you, tell you the truth, no matter how difficult, no matter how painful. and here, in my view, is what is true. maga republicans do not respect the constitution, they do not believe in the rule of law, they do not recognise the will of the people. they refused to accept the results of a free election, and they are working right now, as i speak, in state after state, to give power to decide elections in america to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy

itself. maga forces are determined to take this country backwards to an america where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love. they promote authoritarian leaders and they fanned the flames of political violence that are a threat to our personal rights, to the pursuit ofjustice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country. they look at the mob that stormed the united states capitol on january the 6th place, brutally attacking law enforcement, not as insurrectionists placed a dagger at the throat of our democracy, but as patriots, and they see their maga failure to stop a peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election as preparation for the 2022,

2024 elections. they tried everything last time to nullify the boats of 81 million people. this time, they are determined to succeed in thwarting the will of the people. —— the vote of 81 million people. that is why respected conservatives like the federal courtjudge has called trump and the extreme maga republicans, quote, a clear and present danger to our democracy. while the threat to american democracy is real, i want to say as clearly as we can, we are not powerless in the face of these threats. we are not bystanders in this ongoing attack on democracy. there are far more americans, far more americans, from every background and belief, who

reject the extreme maga ideology than those that accept it. applause. folks, it is within our power, within our hands, yours and mine, to stop this assault on american democracy. i'm believe america's at an inflection point, one of those moments that determined the shape of everything that is to come after it. and now america must choose to move forward or to move backwards. to build a future or obsess about the past. to be a nation of hope and unity and optimism or a nation of fear, division and darkness. maga republicans have made their choice. they embrace angen made their choice. they embrace anger, they thrive on chaos. they live not in the light of true but in the shadow of lies.

but together, together, we can choose a different path. we can choose a different path. we can choose a different path. we can choose a better path. forwards, to the future. a future of possibility, to build and dream and hope. and we are on that path moving ahead. i know this nation. i know you, the american people. i know your courage, i know your hearts, and i know our history. this is and i know our history. this is a nation that honours our constitution, we do not reject it. this is a nation that believes in the rule of law, we do not repudiate it. this is a nation that respects free and fair elections, we honour the will of the people, we do not deny it. cheering and applause. and this is a nation that rejects violence as a political

tool, we do not encourage violence. we are still an america that believes in honesty, decency and respect for other. patriotism, liberty, justice, hope, possibility. we are still at our core, a democracy. and yet... applause. history tells us, blind loyalty to a single leader and a willingness to engage in political violence is fatal in a democracy. for a long time, we told ourselves that american democracy is guaranteed. but it's not. we have to defend it. protect it. stand up for it. each and every one of us. that's why, tonight, i am asking our nation to come together, unite behind a single purpose of defending our democracy, regardless of your ideology. applause.

we are all called by duty and conscience to confront extremists who will put their own pursuit of power above all else. democrats, independents, mainstream republicans, we must be more stronger, determined and committed to saving democracy than maga republicans are to destroying american democracy. we, the people will not let anyone or anything tear us apart. today there are dangers around us, we cannot allow them to prevail. you have heard it, more and more talk about violence. as an acceptable political tool in this country. it's not. it can never be an acceptable tool. so i want to say this plain and simple. there is no place for political violence in america,

period, none, ever. cheering and applause. we saw law enforcement brutally attacked on january sixth, officials, poll workers, volunteers, subject to intimidation and death threats. and can you believe it, fbi agentsjust doing their and can you believe it, fbi agents just doing theirjob, facing threats to their own lives from their own fellow citizens? 0n lives from their own fellow citizens? on top of that, public figures today, yesterday and the day before, predicting, and the day before, predicting, and all but calling for mass violence and rioting in the streets. this is inflammatory, it's dangerous. it's against the rule of law. and we, the people must say, this is not who we are. applause.

ladies and gentlemen, we can't be throw insurrectionist and pro—american. they are incompatible. we can't allow violence to be normalised in this country, it's wrong. —— we can't be pro insurrectionist. we can't let the integrity of our elections be undermined. for that is a path to chaos. look, i know politics can be fierce and mean and nasty in america. i get it. i believe in the give and take of politics, disagreement, debate and dissent. we are a big, complicated country. but democracy endures only if we, the people respect the guard rails of the republic. 0nly the people respect the guard rails of the republic. only if we, the people accept the

results of free and fair elections. 0nly results of free and fair elections. only if we, the people see politics not as total war, people see politics not as totalwar, but people see politics not as total war, but mediation of our differences. democracy cannot survive when one side believes there are only two outcomes to an election, either they win or they were cheated. and that is where the maga republicans are today. they don't understand what every patriotically american nose, you can't love your country only when you win. it's fundamental. american democracy only works, only if we choose to respect the rule of law and the institutions that were set up institutions that were set up in this chamber behind me. only if we respect our legitimate political differences. i will

not stand by and watch. i will not stand by and watch. i will not let the will of the american people be overturned by wild conspiracy theories and baseless claims of fraud, i will not see elections were stolen by people who simply refuse to accept that they lost. i will not stand by and watch the most fundamental freedom of this country, the freedom of this country, the freedom to vote, and have your vote counted, be taken from you, the american people. look, as your president, i will defend our democracy with every fibre of my being. and i'm asking every american to join me. applause. throughout our history, america has often made the greatest progress coming out of some of our darkest moments. i believe

we can and must do that again. and we are. maga republicans look at america and the carnage, darkness and despair. they spread fear and lies, lies told full profit and power. but i see a different america. an america with an unlimited future, an america that is about to take off. i hope you see it as well. just look around. i believe we could lift america from the depths of covid so we passed the greatest package since franklin delano roosevelt, and today the american economy is faster and stronger than any other advanced nation in the world. we have more to go. i believe we could build a better america, so we passed the biggest infrastructure investment since president dwight eisenhower, and we have now embarked on a decade of building will rebuilding the

roads, bridges, ports, water systems, high—speed alternate, railroads. i believe we can make america safer. —— high—speed internet. so we passed the best gun safety law since clinton. i believe we could go from being the highest cost of prescriptions in the world to making prescriptions and health care drugs more affordable, so we passed the most significant health care forms since president 0bama signed the affordable health care act. and i believe we can create a clean energy future, and save the planet. we passed the most important climate initiative ever, ever, ever. cheering and applause. the cynics and the critics tell us nothing can get done, but they are wrong. there is not a

single america can't do, not a single america can't do, not a single thing beyond our capacity, if we do it together. it's never easy, but we are proving in america, no matter how long the road, progress does come. applause. look, i know the last few years have been tough. but today, covid no longer controls our lives. more americans are working than ever. businesses are growing, schools are open, millions of americans have been lifted out of poverty, millions are exposed to toxic burn pits will now get what they deserve, compensation for them and their families. american manufacturing has come alive across the heartland, and the future will be made in america. applause.

no matter what the white supremacists and extremists say, i made a bet with the american people and it is paying off, on the darkness of charlottesville, gun violence, covid, insurrection, we can see the light, it is now available. the light that will guide us forward. not only in words, but in actions, for you, for your children, your grandchildren, for america. even at this moment, with all the challenges we face, i give you my word, i have never been more optimistic about america's future, not because of me, but because of who you are. we are going to end cancer as we know it, mark my words. we are going to create millions of newjobs in the clean energy economy. we are going to think big and make the 21st century another american century, because the world needs us to. that's what we need to focus our energy on, not on the past, not on culture

wars. not on the politics of grievance. but on a future we can build together. the maga republicans believe that for them to succeed, everyone else has to fail. they believe america, not like i believe about america... i believe america is big enough for all of us to succeed, and that is the nation we are building, where no one is left behind. i ran for president because i believed we were in a battle for the soul of this nation. i believe the soul is the brett, the life and the essence of who we are. —— the breadth. it is the soul of america, defined by the soul of america, defined by the sacred proposition that all are created equal in the image of god, all are entitled to be treated with decency, dignity

and respect, that all deserve justice and a shot at prosperity and consequence. and that democracy, democracy, must be defended, for democracy makes all these things possible. applause. and it's up to us. democracy will be preserved, and we, the people, the habits of the heart, in our character, optimism is tested, yet in years, courage that digs deep when we need it. empathy that fuels democracy. the willingness to see each other not as enemies but as fellow americans. look, our democracy isn't perfect. notwithstanding those folks you hear on the other side there... they are entitled to be outrageous. this

is a democracy. but history and common sense... cheering and applause. good manners is nothing they have ever suffered from. but common sense tells us that opportunity, liberty and justice for all are most likely to come to pass in a democracy. we have never fully realise the aspirations of our founding, but every generation has open those doors a little bit wider, to include more people who have been excluded before. my fellow americans, america is an idea. the most powerful idea in the history of the world. and it beats in the hearts of the people of this country. it beats in all of our hearts, it unites america. it is the american creed, the idea that american creed, the idea that america guarantees that everyone be treated with dignity. it gives hate no safe harbour. it installed in every

one of the believe that, no matter where you start in life, there is nothing you can't achieve. that's who we are. that's what we stand for. that's what we stand for. that's what we believe. and that's precisely what we are doing. 0pening doors, creating possibilities, focusing on the future, and we are onlyjust beginning. cheering and applause. 0ur task is to make our nation free and fair, just and strong, noble and whole. this work is the work of democracy, the work of this generation, the work of our time for all time. we can't afford to leave anyone on the sidelines. we need everyone to do their part, so speak up, speak out, get engaged, vote, vote, vote!

if we do our duty, if we do our duty, in 2022 and beyond, then aged still to come will say that we, all of us here, we kept the faith, we preserved democracy, we he did not our worst instincts but our better angels. we prove that for all its imperfections, america is still the beacon to the world, an ideal to be realised, a promise to be kept. there is nothing more sacred, nothing more american. that's our soul. that's who we truly are. and that's whom we must always be. i have no doubt, none, that this is who we will be. and that we will come together as a nation, to secure our democracy, and for the next 200

years, we will have what we had in the past 200 years, the greatest nation on the face of the earth. we just need to remember who we are, we are the united states of america, the united states of america. and may god protect our nation, and may god protect our nation, and may god protect all those who stand watch over our democracy, god bless you all, democracy, thank you. cheering and applause. we just heard from us wejust heard from us president joe biden, who gave a fiery speech to the nation in prime—time in the us. he has said that donald trump and the maga republicans represent extremism that threatens the very foundation of our republic. he gave this speech at a historic landmark in the us, where the us constitution was signed at independence hall. he made a very clear

message, saying that violence will not be tolerated, there is no place for the political violence in america, and that this speech had really been called a battle for the soul of the nation. let's go to my colleague in north america, in los angeles. peter, talk to us about some of the main themes of this speech.— of this speech. this was a seech of this speech. this was a speech of _ of this speech. this was a speech of two _ of this speech. this was a speech of two halves, - of this speech. this was a speech of two halves, the of this speech. this was a - speech of two halves, the first half was dedicated to attacking former president trump andy maga republicans, donald trump's slogan, make america great again. as you say, he talked about political violence, he referenced the january sixth attack on conquest. he talked about attacks on federal agents, recent history i think, he was referring there to some of the verbal attacks and threats against federal agents following that search on

mar—a—lago, former president trump's home in florida. and the second part of the speech, in which he expressed optimism about america. i was struck by the fact he said, we are only just beginning, we are only just beginning, we are only just starting. suggesting that he believes he himself as a politician still has a lot to do for this country. but i think this speech will be remembered, yes, it was fiery and a full throated attack on donald trump and those on the right of the republican party... interesting that he made the point that he doesn't necessarily believe that all republicans believe in what donald trump says, and those more outspoken republicans. he left a bit of room to acknowledge there were more moderate republicans. certainly, a huge attack on the former president.— former president. thank you very much — former president. thank you very much for _ former president. thank you very much forjoining - former president. thank you very much forjoining us. - former president. thank you | very much forjoining us. stay with bbc world news.

power use, we will having headlines at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. come on. come on, come on. our music has vibration of love, but war has vibration of hate. we don't have a lot of equipment, so we need to buy this equipment by ourselves. i have no tears anymore.

i'm tired to cry.