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WASHINGTON — After a combative start to his presidency, Donald Trump delivered a more unifying message Sunday and sought to reassure Americans he was up to the daunting task ahead.

Speaking at the White House during a swearing-in ceremony for top aides, the president warned his staff of future challenges but said he believed they were ready.

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“With the faith in each other and the faith in God, we will get the job done,” the president said. “We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history.”

Trump’s reassurance came after a day marked by global protests against his presidency and his own complaints about media coverage of his inauguration.

Earlier Sunday, he had offered a scattershot response to the protests, sarcastically denigrating the public opposition and then defending demonstrators’ rights a short time later.

“Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly,” Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Ninety-five minutes later, he struck a more conciliatory tone.

“Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views,” he tweeted, still using his personal account.