Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46^th President of the United States of America.

Speaking after he was sworn in, President Biden told the gathered crowd that: “Democracy has prevailed.”

He said his presidency would be about uniting the nation and he urged “every American to join me in this cause.”

“Now on this hallowed ground where, just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation under God; indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries,” he said.

The time to move forward is now. pic.twitter.com/IrUUu0bxGO

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2021

Noting that "talk of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days," he said that while the forces that divide America are "deep and very real," they are also not new.

“Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are created equal and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear and demonisation have long torn us apart," he said.

“The battle is perennial and victory is never assured. Through civil war, the Great Depression, World Wars and 9/11 – through struggles and setbacks our better angels have always prevailed.

“In each of these moments, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward and we can do that now.

US President-elect Joe Biden gestures as he arrives for his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America, 20-01-2021. Image: JONATHAN ERNST/DPA/PA Images

“History, faith and reason show the way. The way of unity. We can see each other, not as adversaries but as neighbours. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature.

"For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge and unity is the path forward.

“We must meet this moment as the United States of America.”

Kamala Harris is sworn in as US VicePpresident by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 20-01-2020. Image: Andrew Harnik/AP/Press Association Images

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has become the first woman and the first person of African and South Asian heritage be sworn in as US Vice President.

Former US presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton attended the event at the Capitol.

Mr Biden shared a fist-bump with Mr Obama before the pair took their seats.

This year’s inauguration ceremony is much smaller with most people watching from home due to coronavirus restrictions.

Outgoing US President Donald Trump band Melania Trump arrive to a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, 20-01-2021. Image: Stefani Reynolds/Pool/Sipa USA

Earlier Donald Trump left the White House for the final time, promising: “We will be back in some form.”

Mr Trump did not attend his successor’s inauguration, making his way to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida instead.

Before boarding Air Force One, he told supporters it had been an “incredible” four years.

“As the athletes would say, we left it all on the field,” he said.

“It has been my greatest honour and privilege to have been your president.”