Joe Biden to sweep away some of Donald Trump’s most controversial policies

Hunter Biden, Joe Biden and Beau Biden (right), pictured in Wilmington in 2004

Credit: Eyevine/Eyevine

Mr Biden’s ascent to the presidency is the culmination of a half-century long political career. He first ran for the White House 33 years ago and spent eight years as Barack Obama’s vice president.

Reminders of the vast challenges he faces once in the presidency will be all around when he takes the oath of office on the steps of the US Capitol. He will do so not before a cheering crowd but an empty National Mall due to security threats in the wake of the storming of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob earlier this month.

Mr Trump – who has still not admitted defeat in the November presidential election – will not be present, becoming the first outgoing US president in more than 150 years not to attend his successor’s inauguration.

Instead, he will hold his own early morning farewell event at a military base before flying to his Florida golf resort Mar-a-Lago, where he will reside after the presidency. He was preparing to issue a slew of presidential pardons as one of his final acts before leaving the White House.

Attendees at Mr Biden’s inauguration ceremony, who are set to include Mike Pence, the vice president, will sit on socially-distanced chairs because of the Covid pandemic.

Five of his most senior cabinet selections were being grilled by senators in the hope their confirmations could be secured as quickly as possible.