thank you. god bless you. and god bless america. thank. god bless america.

oh, chief justice roberts. vice president harris. speaker pelosi. leader schumer. leader mcconnell. vice president pence. my distinguished guest. my fellow americans, this is day. this is democracy's a day of history and hope a renewal and resolve through a crucible for the america has been tested anew and america has risen to the

challenge. today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause. the cause of democracy. the people. the will of the people has been heard and will of the people has been heeded. we've learned again that democracy is precious. democracy is fragile. at this hour, my friends. democracy has prevail. so now, on this hallowed ground, we're just a few days ago, violent sought to shake the capitol'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 ahead and are uniquely american, way rest

lewis. bold optimist stick and set our sights on the nation. we know we can be and we must be. i thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. i thank them from the bottom of my and i know. i know there of our constitution and the strength the strength of our nation as does president carter. i spoke with last night who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service. i've just taken sacred oath. each of those patriots have taken the oath first sworn by george washington. but the american story depends not in any one of us, not on

some of us, but on all of us. and we, the people who seek a more perfect union. this a great nation. we are good people. and the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war. we've come so far. but we still have far go. we'll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this of peril and possibilities. much to repair. much to. much to heal. much to build and much to gain few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. once in a century, virus that silently stalks country is taken

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 some 400 years in the making. moves us the of justice for all will be deferred no longer. a cry for survival comes from itself. a cry that can't be any more despot or any more clear now. a rise of political extremism white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat. to overcome these challenges to restore soul and secure the future of america requires so much more than words. it requires the most elusive all

things in a democracy, unity. unity. in another january. on new day in 1863, abraham signed the emancipation proclamation. when put pen to paper, the president said, and i quote, if my name ever goes down in the history, it will be for this act and my whole soul in it, my whole soul in it. today, on this january day, my whole soul is in this bringing america together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. and i ask every american to, join me in this cause cause. the uniting to fight the we face anger, resentment and hatred,

extremism, lawlessness, vile disease, joblessness, hopelessness. with unity. we can do great things, important things. we can right wrongs? we can put people to work and good. we can teach our children and schools. we can overcome the deadly virus. we can reward. reward work and rebuild the middle class and health care secure for all. we deliver racial justice and we make america once again the leading force good in the world. i know of unity. can a some like a foolish fantasy 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 constant struggle between the american ideal that we all are created

equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. the battle is perennial and victory is never. through civil the great depression, world war 11. through sacrifice and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed in each of these moments. enough of us. 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. we can see each 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. no. only a state of. this. our historic moment of crisis and challenge and unity. is the path forward. and we must this moment as the states of america. if we do that, i guarantee you we will not fail. we have never, ever, ever failed in america. we've acted together. and so today at this time, this place, let's afresh all of us. let's begin to listen to one another again. hear one another. see one another. shohreh expect to one another.

politics have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path 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, the capitol dome. as was mentioned earlier, completed amid the civil war when the union was literally hanging in the balance. yet we endured. we prevailed. here we stand looking out in the great mall where dr. 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 in of the woman in american history elected national office. vice president kamala. don't tell me things can't change. here 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 a riotous mob thought could use violence to silence 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. not ever. not ever.

while 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 within the guardrails. our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength yet here we clearly disagreement must not lead to disunion. and i pledge this to you. i will be a president for all americans. all americans. and i promise i will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those, did.

many centuries ago, saint augustine, a saint my church wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common of their love, defined by the common objects. 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 truth. recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. there is truth and. there are lies, lies tall for power and for profit. and each of us has a duty and, a responsibility as citizens, as americans, and especially as

leaders. leaders who have pledged honor our constitution and protect our nation and to defend the truth and defeat the lies. look. i understand that many of my americans view the future with fear and trepidation. i understand. worry about their jobs. i understand. like my dad. they lay in bed staring at 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 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 as you do. we must end this uncivil war

that pits against blue, rural versus urban 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 other person's shoes, as my mom would say just for a moment stand in their shoes. because here's the thing about. there's no accounting for what fateful deal you. some days when you need a hand the days when we were called to lend a hand that's how it has to be what we do for one another. and we are this way our country will be stronger, more

prosperous, more ready for the future. and we can still disagree. my fellow americans in the work ahead us. we're going to need each. we need all our strength to preserve, to persevere through this dark winter. we're entering may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. we must set aside politics. finally, face this pandemic as nation, one nation. and i promise this as the bible weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the. we will get through this together. together. look, folks, all my colleagues i served with in the house and the senate here, we all understand the world is watching watching. all of us.

so here's my message to those beyond our borders. america been tested and 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. and will lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. it be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and secure. look, you all know we've been through so in this nation and in my act as president. i to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer. remember all those we lost this past year to the pandemic?

those 400,000 fellow american moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors and coworkers. we 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, those left behind. and for our country country. amen, folks this is a time of testing we face an attack on our democracy and on truth. a raging virus, growing inequity, staying of systemic racism. a climate in crisis. america's role in the world. any one of these will be enough to challenge us and profound ways. but the fact is we face them all

at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest 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 is so much to do and this is certain. i promise you we will be judged. you and i, by how we resolve cascading crises of our era. we will rise to the occasion is the question. will we? 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. sure you do as well. i believe we will. and when we do, we will write the next great chapter in the history of the united of america, the american story, a story that might sound something like a that means a lot to me.

it's called american anthem. there's one verse that stands, at least for me, and it goes like this. the work and prayers of century we 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 through. america. america. i gave my best to you. let's add. let us at 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 save us. they gave their best. they did their duty. they healed a broken land. my fellow americans, i close the day where i began with the sacred oath before god and, all

of you. i give my word. i will always level with you. i will defend the constitution. i'll defend our democracy. i'll defend america. and i'll give all or all of you. keep everything i in your service thinking not of power, but 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 is yet to come. that we answered the call of history. we met the moment. democracy and hope truth and

justice did not die on our watch. but through that, america's secured liberty at home and stood again as a beacon to the world. that is what we owe our forebears one another and generations 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 love with all our hearts. may god bless, and may god protect our troops. thank you, america.