Trump is set to leave the White House the same day that Biden will be inaugurated in the office on January 21.
On Wednesday morning, President-elect Joe Biden is set to formally take the oath of office and sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. On that same day, reports said that Trump is also scheduled to leave Washington D.C. and move back into his home in Florida.
Trump would be the fourth president to skip an inauguration if he refuses to attend Biden's ceremony https://t.co/nt5On9CGO5
— The Independent (@Independent) December 4, 2020
In addition to this, Trump also plans to defy the White House tradition, where the outgoing President attends the inaugural ceremony, as he reportedly announced that he would not be present during this said event. This move of Trump will make him the fourth President in the history of the United States who skipped his successor’s ceremonial transfer of power.
In the previous weeks, Trump stood his ground and refused to concede in the 2020 election. He alleged that voter fraud and election irregularities happened during the election, such as damping of ballots for Democrats. However, due to what happened in the U.S. Capitol last January 6, the President decided to mellow down and stop his moves in relation to this.
Due to Biden and Trump’s ongoing friction, the President has not met with his successor at the White House yet. This is a clear contrast with what transpired in the past election. Back in 2016, a few days after the election, President Obama met with Trump in the White House.
Watch: President Obama and President-elect Trump met today in the Oval Office at the White House pic.twitter.com/XEuLGVs4dq
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) November 10, 2016
According to reports, instead of being at Biden’s inauguration, President Trump plans to instead hold his departure ceremony at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before his final flight aboard Air Force One.
A person familiar with the ongoing plans also stated that officials consider holding an elaborate send-off event for Trump – the same as how he is received abroad during state visits. They stated that Trump’s send-off ceremony would have a complete red carpet, color guard, military band, and 21 gun salute.
After he leaves the White House, Trump will move to his residence in Florida. Last week, the White House staffers had seen carting boxes out of the White Hosue official residence.
Meanwhile, Vice President Pence has already called Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris and congratulated her on her victory. Pence also promised to assist Kamala in the transition process. As opposed to Trump’s decision, the Vice President is expected to be present at the inauguration on January 21.
Reports say that VP Pence is expected to attend president elect Biden’s inauguration. Pres Trump says he will not. pic.twitter.com/7wQlj0H5Pm
— Deborah Roberts (@DebRobertsABC) January 10, 2021
Meanwhile, in a Tweet, Trump slammed the Vice President saying, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certified. The USA demands the truth!”
Trump publicly broke his ties with the Vice President a few weeks ago after he refused to support him in going against the certification of electoral college certification on January 6. On that same day, the violent protest at the U.S. Capitol happened as a mob of protesters broke into the building, forcing lawmakers into hiding and leaving five people dead.
