Joe Biden said it was an “embarrassment” that Donald Trump had not conceded defeat after losing last Tuesday’s election, although the president-elect insisted the refusal to acknowledge his victory would not hold up his transition plans.

Speaking at his first press conference since he was declared the winner of last week’s election, Mr Biden said other senior Republicans who had not recognised his win, such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, would eventually change course.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak to Mitch,” Mr Biden said. “My expectation is that I will do that in the not too distant future. I think the whole Republican party has been put in a position, with a few notable exceptions, of being mildly intimidated by the sitting president.”