Joe Biden sworn in as the 46th president of the United States

Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at the US Capitol in Washington.

Promising to marshal a spirit of national unity to guide the country through one of the most perilous chapters in American history.

His oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.

Joe Biden unsuccessfully ran for president twice – in 1987 and 2008 – before becoming Barack Obama’s vice-president.

After vowing to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, Joe Biden has officially been sworn in as US president.

In his first speech, Biden says “this is democracy’s day” and says the US “has much to do in this winter of peril, much to repair”.

The new president says the country must confront the rise of white supremacy, and reject manufactured facts.

Speaking of the challenges that his administration will face, including the pandemic and the rise of “white supremacy”, Biden says he will “confront and we will defeat” each obstacle.

He repeats his campaign vow to “restore the soul of the future of America,” but says doing so “requires so much more than words”.

“It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: Unity.”

The new US president takes a moment to acknowledge the inauguration of Kamala Harris.

“Here we stand 108 years ago, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote.

“Today we mark the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected vice-president – Kamala Harris.
“Don’t tell me things can’t change,” he said.

Vice-president Kamala Harris has taken her oath too – becoming the first woman to hold that position in history.

She was sworn into office by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who made history in 2009 as the first Latina on the top court.

Guests include former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump and wife Melania Trump have left the White House for the last time, aboard the Marine One helicopter.

Trump spoke at a military send-off at Joint Base Andrews before flying to his resort in Florida.

Lady Gaga sang the US national anthem, and singers Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks performed

Amanda Gorman, 22, who was the first National Youth Poet Laureate, became the youngest poet to perform at a presidential inauguration.

Some 25,000 troops were scheduled to guard the ceremony after a deadly riot at the Capitol earlier this month.