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Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States.

The US Chief Justice John Roberts took the oath of office from the 78-year-old Democrat on Wednesday on the west side of the US Capitol in Washington.

Before Biden, it was his deputy, Kamala Harris' turn.

She was sworn in as the first woman and first African American woman to be US Vice President.

Biden takes over the most powerful office in the world in unprecedented times of crisis.

With more than 400,000 corona deaths, the USA is the country with the highest number of victims worldwide and is in a devastating economic crisis.

The storming of the Capitol shocked the nation two weeks ago and also overshadowed Biden's inauguration.

For fear of renewed violence, the Capitol was cordoned off extensively before the inauguration, and 25,000 national guards took up positions in the capital.

Authorities also cordoned off the green belt between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, where hundreds of thousands of people gather when presidents are inaugurated.

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On his first day at the White House, Biden plans to sign 17 decrees and orders to reverse his predecessor's controversial policy.

Among other things, he wants to lead the USA back into the Paris climate protection agreement of 2015, reverse the exit from the World Health Organization (WHO) ordered by Trump, end the construction of the border wall with neighboring Mexico and abolish entry bans for people from several Muslim-majority countries.

That morning, Biden attended a service in Washington with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, including powerful Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.

"It's a new day in America," wrote Biden in the short message service Twitter.

"My Way" - Trump traveled to Florida

The elected President Donald Trump had left Washington a few hours before the end of his term and had traveled to Florida.

The Presidential Air Force One aircraft with Trump and his wife Melania on board took off Wednesday from Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base near the capital.

The Frank Sinatra classic “My Way” played from loudspeakers.

Trump now wants to live in his Mar-a-Lago estate in the state of Florida.

Trump is the first president in 152 years to avoid the inauguration of his successor.

However, he had left Biden a letter, as it became known on Wednesday.