Joe Biden plans flurry of executive orders to reverse Trump policies on first day in office

People march in Los Angeles celebrating after Joe Biden was declared the election winner 

Credit: AFP

Mr Biden made much of his ability to reach across the aisle during his successful bid for Democratic presidential nomination at the start of this year.

Should the Republicans maintain control of the Senate there will be much focus on Mr Biden’s relationship with Mitch McConnell, the current Republican Senate leader from Kentucky.

Chris Coons, the Delaware senator who is close to Mr Biden, was upbeat in an interview with Politico, saying of the two men: “They have negotiated big things before.”

Mitt Romney, the Utah senator and former Republican presidential nominee, also said his party would work with Mr Biden on education and health care issues, including lowering drug prices.

However he also issued a warning, claiming Americans had rejected progressive Democratic policies such as the Green New Deal, a bold but expensive climate change action plan, tax rises and the end of the oil industry.

Near the end of his Saturday speech Mr Biden, a lifelong Catholic, quoted a hymn about how God will “raise you up on eagle’s wings” and "bear you on the breath of dawn".

He added: “And now, together — on eagle’s wings — we embark on the work that God and history have called upon us to do.”