Chidi Samuel with agency report
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on Friday, succeeding Barack Obama and taking control of a divided country in a transition of power that he has declared will lead to “America First” policies at home and abroad.
With his wife, Melania standing beside him, Trump raised his right hand and put his left on a Bible used by Abraham Lincoln and repeated a 35-word oath of office from the U.S. Constitution, with U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.
The transition from a Democratic president to a Republican took place on the West Front of the domed U.S. Capitol before a crowd of former presidents, dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of people on the grounds of the National Mall. The crowd stretched westward on a cool day of occasional light rain.
Trump, 70, takes over a country divided after a bitter election campaign.
In his speech, the new President said that the time for empty talk was over. “We must think big and dream even bigger. l will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining, but never doing anything abut it,” Trump says.
“The time for empty talk is over, now arrives the hour for action. Do not allow anyone to tell you that it cannot be done.”
Snapshot of his speech …
‘We all bleed the same red blood’
“A new national pride will lift our sights and heal our divisions,” says Trump.
“It’s time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget. That whether we are black or brown or white we all bleed the same red blood.”
‘Time for empty talk is over’
“We must think big and dream even bigger. l will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining, but never doing anything abut it,” Trump says.
“The time for empty talk is over, now arrives the hour for action. Do not allow anyone to tell you that it cannot be done.”
“There should be no fear,” Trump says before praising the nation’s law enforcement and armed forces.
“Most importantly we will be protected by God”
‘No room for prejudice’
“When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice
‘Radical Islamic terrorism’
We will unite the civilised world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth.”
‘Hire American’
“We will get our people off welfare and back to work. We will follow two simple rules, buy American and hire American.
‘America will start winning again’
“I will fight for your with every breath in my body and I will never ever let you down. America will start winning again and winning like never ever before.”
‘America first’
Trump promises that jobs and education will be strengthened under his administration.
“We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has dissipated over the horizon. One by one, the factories have left our shores.
“The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and redistributed all across the world.
“From this day forward its going to be only America first, America first!
‘This is your country’
Trump: “This is your day, this is your celebration, and this, the United States of America, is your country.
“The forgotten men and woman of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now.
“What truly matters is not which party controls our government. But whether our country is controlled by the people.”