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The ceremonies have been scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, with heightened security measures arising from the Capitol riot exactly two weeks ago.
Kamala Harris was also sworn in as the 49th vice-president on Wednesday morning, breaking historic gender and racial barriers in American politics.
Harris took the oath administered by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, becoming the first Black, South Asian and first female vice-president.
Some 25,000 National Guards are protecting the inauguration ceremony, which is missing the traditional hundreds of thousands of spectators because of the current global pandemic.
Mr Trump left the White House for the last time as president shortly after 08:00 (13:00 GMT). He boarded a helicopter, flew to the nearby Andrews Air Force base, and has now arrived in Florida.
He is the first president not to attend his successor’s inauguration since 1869.
Early on Wednesday Mr Biden attended Mass at a cathedral in Washington - along with four Roman Catholic congressional leaders, both Democrats and Republicans - before making his way to the Capitol.
Age 78, Mr Biden is the oldest US president ever to be sworn in.and only the second Roman Catholic president.
Among those attending the ceremony are three of his predecessors: Barack Obama - under whom Mr Biden served for eight years as vice-president - Bill Clinton and George W Bush.
Outgoing Vice-President Mike Pence is also attending the ceremony. He skipped Mr Trump’s farewell military salute event at Andrews base.
Aides say Mr Biden will use his inaugural address of about half an hour to deliver an optimistic call for national unity after his Republican predecessor’s turbulent tenure.
The ceremony includes musical performances by Lady Gaga - who sang the national anthem - as well as Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks.
An evening concert at the Lincoln Memorial in the city will be hosted by Tom Hanks and include Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake, and Demi Lovato.
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