Only a new start or already a new beginning?

With the inauguration of the former Democratic vice-president Joe Biden as the 46th president, the US has installed a new administration replacing the Republican government headed by Donald Trump.

The President of the US Joe Biden. Photo: TTXVN

After four years, the 78 years old Joe Biden returned to the White House where he spent eight years together with former Democratic president Barack Obama.

With Joe Biden as president, the US has the first woman, first Black American and first South Asian American to hold the office of the vice-president. This power transfer was extremely remarkable, maybe even unique until now in the US history, because of Donald Trump's populistic and widely seen as disastrous presidency and because of the politically and juridically chaotic months and days after the 2020 presidential election, especially because of the violent storm on the Capitol on the 6th of this year's January by Trump supporters radicalised by Trump himself. 

America had experienced a historically unprecedented political and social earthquakes. The US is now at a turning point.

The question is whether it was only a new start or already a new beginning, already a revolution or only an upheaval, only transition or already changes. After all happenings, this country and the Biden administration now both have their chance to answer those above-mentioned questions. 

Whether it was only a start of a new administration or maybe, even already the beginning of a new era is surely depending on how the new president intends to perceive and to capitalize on this chance to change and reform America politically, legally, juridically and socially so basically and profoundly that its democracy couldn't be derailed again, that this country could find its urgently needed normalcy in peace and reconciliation, in political  stability and social security and that this country regains international credibility the sooner the better for the new president and for America.

In his inauguration speech, the new president disclosed to already have found the right language and words to deal with the new chance by emphasizing "Unity", calling for reconciliation and offering bipartisan cooperation.

He showed his proper approach when committing to take quick actions and define right priorities in his governing policies. Only if he succeeded with his governing programs, he could prevent the returning of the Trump times and create a really new beginning for America. 

He could only succeed if he, first of all, push back the coronavirus pandemic and restore economic growth in the next days and months, not in years. He could only succeed if he gets the Republicans on his side to deal and in dealing with all most urgent present problems of America. 

It would surely take long time to heal America's present wounds and a really new beginning for America means at the same time to really try as much as possible to heal those wounds in America's soul and body. 

Unlike his predecessors, President Biden has now the chance and the mission of his lifetime to do that.

With the change of its administration, America is facing many uncertainties in many aspects but having some glimpses of hope and optimistic for the time ahead.

Disclaimer: The views expressed by Ambassador Tran Duc Mau are of his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Hanoitimes.