Donald J Trump has
been sworn in as the 45th President of America and vowed to rebuild the country
using "American hands". "American
carnage stops right here and right now," he said on the steps of the
Capitol after taking the Oath of Office. He said he would strip power away from
Washington and give it "back to the people".
"We
must think big and dream even bigger," he said. "America will start
winning again, winning like never before. "We will bring
back our jobs, we will bring back our borders, we will bring back our wealth
and we will bring back our dreams."We will build
new roads and highways and bridges and airports and tunnels and railways all
across our wonderful nation."
Barack Obama, the former president and his wife Michelle, the
former first lady, watched on as they handed power to the Trumps.During Mr
Trump's speech, the rain started falling in Washington.He and wife Melania had
earlier had tea at the White House with the Obamas. Hillary and Bill Clinton
were also there along with other former presidents, George W Bush and Jimmy
Carter, and their first ladies. George H W Bush and his wife Barbara remain in
hospital in Houston.
“We,
the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild
our country and restore its promise for all of our people,” Trump told the
crowd as rain began to fall. “Together we will determine the course of America
and all of the world for many many years to come.” The new president said:
“Today we are not merely transferring power from one party to another ... but
we are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it back to
you, the people.”
He
added: “January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the
rulers once again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten
no longer. Everyone is listening to you now.” Reviving some of the populist
slogans from his election campaign, he told the crowd: “From this day forward,
it’s going to be only America First, America First,” he said, and described
“two simple rules”: “buy American and hire American.”
But
in his 20-minute speech he also described a nation falling apart. “The crime,
and the gangs, and the drugs that have stolen so many lives ... This American
carnage stops right here and stops right now,” he said. “Whether we are black or brown or white, we
all bleed the same red blood of patriots,” he said. “Whether a child is born in
the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up
at the same night sky ... and they are infused with the same breath of life by
the almighty creator.”
Turning
briefly to foreign affairs, he attacked “radical Islamic terrorism” and said
“we will eradicate completely [it] from the face of the Earth”. Although Trump,
who has no political experience, tore up the rulebook in his election campaign,
on Friday he followed familiar solemn traditions. Trump and his wife, Melania,
attended an hour-long prayer service at St John’s Episcopal church and then
visited the White House. They were warmly greeted by Barack and Michelle Obama
on a red carpet, and presented them with a gift box.
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