Joe Biden used his first national address as president-elect to vow to heal a deeply divided nation, declaring it was time to "let this grim era of demonisation in America begin to end" and reaching out to the millions of people who voted against him to say, "Let's give each other a chance."

His calls for reconciliation at a Saturday victory celebration came even as President Donald Trump continued to argue that the election had been stolen from him, an indication that the divisive politics that have gripped the US over the past four years are far from over.