Biden never uttered Trump's name in his speech,
but he referred repeatedly to the former president
with forceful, and at times personal, denunciations of his actions.
Biden said,(trump) "values power over principle."
His "bruised ego matters more to him than our democracy,"
the president continued, adding,
"He can't accept that he lost."
"He's not just a former president," Biden said of Trump.
"He's a defeated former president."
He said Trump sat in the White House
"watching it all on television and doing nothing"
as police were assaulted and
"the nation's Capitol was under siege."
Biden said the U.S. is in
"a battle for the soul of America."
"I did not seek this fight brought to this Capitol
one year ago today,
but I will not shrink from it either," he said.
"I will stand in this breach.
I will defend this nation. And I will allow no one
to place a dagger at the throat of democracy."
Speaking to reporters later, Biden said he wanted
to "face the truth" in his speech in order to heal.
"You can't pretend. This is serious stuff." Biden said
"You've got to face it. That's what great nations do.
They face the truth, deal with it and move on."
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