US 46th president Joe Biden inauguration How did the speech compare with previous leaders

Most presidents use their speech to talk about themes and are generally short on specifics - but not all. Sky News looks at

Mr Biden's speech, and back at the previous three presidents' addresses.

Theme The overwhelming theme of Mr Biden's speech was unity and the victory of democracy. He used "unity" in nearly every sentence in one section of his speech. Mentions of other presidents Mr Biden did not mention any of the former presidents who were present but instead addressed new Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, former Vice President Mike Pence, and Chief Justice John Roberts. Religion Mr Biden is the second practising Roman Catholic to become president, after John F Kennedy.

His faith ran through his speech, with a reference to St Augustin, a saint associated with his church, a bible quote on how things will get better and a moment of silence to pray for those who have lost their lives to COVID-19. Speech ending Mr Biden ended his speech by saying "with purpose and resolve" he will serve the country "we love with all our hearts". " "May God bless America and may God protect our troops. " Thank you America," he concluded.

His inauguration speech was noted for its short, sharp sentences, much like the sound bites he likes to give at his rallies. Theme Mr Trump's speech was accusatory in much of its tone, saying he was giving hope to those who had been forgotten. "America first" was at the core of his speech and, unlike most inaugural speeches, he used it as another chance to highlight specific issues. Most used words "America" was the most used word by far, with "American", "people", "country", "dream" and "nation" used many more times than other presidents used individual words - apart from Mr Biden.

"Make America", "bring back", "American workers" and "state of America" were his most used phrases. Issues Mr Trump promised a new era in American politics, deriding the Washington elite and saying America "belongs to you". The economy was a big focus in Mr Trump's speech, with "America first" being his resounding message as he criticised the US for making "other countries rich". He depicted America as being full of abandoned factories, economic anger, rising crime and dystopian "carnage" and said how he would give a helping hand to those who had been forgotten.

Mentions of other presidents Mr Trump thanked presidents Carter, Clinton, Bush and Obama, who were all present at his inauguration.

Barack Obama won a decisive victory over Republican nominee John McCain, and made history by becoming the first African American president and first non-white president. Theme The overwhelming theme was that a reboot was needed for the US, as Mr Obama listed what he believed to be the country's failures - including "10 years of war", a not so subtle dig at George W Bush and the Iraq War. His words then turned to hope, using the country's past to highlight how immigrants built the nation and "saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions". Issues An end to plutocracy was one of the main issues Mr Obama addressed, as he warned Americans "have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world", as he had a dig at "those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame".

Pragmatism was an overriding theme, with a promise to pursue government programmes when they worked and axe them when they did not, while he added that market forces "can spin out of control" without a watchful eye - a nod to the financial crisis of the time. Mention of other presidents Mr Obama thanked Mr Bush for his "service to the nation as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition".

Theme Following the disputed election results, Mr Bush made a call for national unity and focused on the ideals of the American way of life. He acknowledged that while many Americans were prosperous, "others doubt the promise, even the justice, of our own country" - and pledged to "build a single nation of justice and opportunity". Most used words "Citizens", "country", "nation", "America", "common good" and "public interest" were the most heavily featured words and phrases throughout his speech as he drew on the US being a democratic leader in the world. Issues While Mr Bush's speech followed the norm of being more thematic than about issues, he did get some of his proposals in.

Mention of other presidents Bill Clinton was thanked by Mr Bush, as was his opponent Mr Gore, with a nod to "the peaceful transfer of authority". Religion A deeply religious man, Mr Bush drew on his Christian faith throughout his speech.