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The outgoing US president will leave town on the morning of inauguration day after considering leaving the day before.
US President Donald Trump now plans to leave Washington on the morning of inauguration day next Wednesday after considering leaving on Tuesday, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday, Reuters news agency reported.
He will be deported with a departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, said a person familiar with the planning who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity as Trump’s plans have not been officially announced. Officials envision an elaborate event that would have the feel of a state visit, with a red carpet, colored guard, military band and a 21 gun salute all being discussed.
Trump, who had previously announced his intention not to attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, will then fly to Palm Beach, Florida to begin his post-presidency at his club Mar-a-Lago, said the source to Reuters.
Trump to begin post-presidency at his Mar-a-Lago complex in Palm Beach, Florida [File: Carlos Barria/Reuters]
Trump will be the first president to skip the inauguration of his successor since President Andrew Johnson refused to attend Ulysses S Grant’s swearing-in ceremony in 1869. Vice President Mike Pence will attend instead of Trump.
Trump shattered another tradition by not officially conceding the election to Biden, becoming the first not to offer a concession since the presidential tradition began in 1896. The president has not contacted Biden or has not. invited to the White House for a meeting before his swearing in like many others have done in recent history.
Pence, for his part, spoke with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Thursday, The Associated Press reported, citing two people familiar with the conversation.
This is the first known contact between elected officials of outgoing and incoming administrations.
One of those familiar with the Thursday afternoon conversation described it as a ‘good call’, with Pence congratulating his successor and offering to help. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private conversation.
Trump will leave Washington after spending months making unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud in an attempt to delegitimize Biden’s presidency and two weeks after inciting a violent insurgency with his supporters storming the U.S. Capitol building in the aim to stop the peaceful transition of power.
Trump is expected to stay in Florida with a small group of aides as he reflects on his future.
Some White House advisers have urged the Republican President to host Biden for a White House meeting ahead of inauguration day, but there is no indication Trump is willing to do so, an administration official said .
Trump, the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, plans to issue more pardons before he leaves. Sources say he considered the unprecedented option of forgiving himself.
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