The new president declared that democracy had prevailed as he pledged to defend the constitution, while urging Americans to overcome their differences in the search for unity.<br><br>At Mr Biden's side was his vice-president Kamala Harris, the first woman, the first Black American, and first person of South Asian descent to hold the nation's second highest office.<br><br>Conspicuous by his absence was the outgoing president Donald Trump, who had flown to Florida earlier in the day, while promising his fans to be "back in some form".<br><br>Mr Biden has promised that tackling the coronavirus pandemic will be top of his agenda.
