Trump to go away Washington on morning of Biden’s inauguration

President Donald Trump will go away Washington subsequent Wednesday morning simply earlier than President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration to start his post-presidential life in Florida.

Refusing to abide by custom and take part within the ceremonial switch of energy, Trump will as an alternative maintain his personal departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland earlier than his remaining flight aboard Air Force One.

Officials are contemplating an elaborate send-off occasion harking back to the receptions he’s obtained throughout state visits overseas, full with a crimson carpet, shade guard, army band and even a 21-gun salute, based on an individual acquainted with the planning who spoke on situation of anonymity forward of a proper announcement.

Trump will turn into solely the fourth president in historical past to boycott his successor’s inauguration. And whereas he has mentioned he’s now dedicated to a peaceable transition of energy — after months of making an attempt to delegitimize Biden’s victory with baseless allegations of mass voter fraud and spurring on his supporters who stormed the Capitol — he has made clear he has little interest in making a present of it.

He has not invited the Bidens to the White House for the standard bread-breaking, nor has he spoken with Biden by telephone. Vice President Mike Pence has spoken along with his successor, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, calling her on Thursday to congratulate her and provide help, based on two folks acquainted with the decision. Pence can be attending Biden’s inauguration, a transfer Biden has welcomed.

While Trump spends the ultimate days of his presidency ensconced within the White House, extra remoted than ever as he confronts the fallout from the Capitol riot, staffers are already heading out the door. Many have already departed, together with those that resigned after the assault, whereas others have been busy packing up their places of work and shifting out private belongings — souvenirs and taxidermy included.

Stewart D. McLaurin, the president of the White House Historical Association, mentioned he had reached out to the White House chief usher, who manages the constructing’s artifacts with the White House curator, due to questions raised by the pictures.

“Be reminded that staff have items of their own that they brought to the White House and can take those items home as they wish. Some items are on loan to staff and offices from other collections and will be returned to those collections,” he mentioned in an announcement.

Earlier this week, reporters overlaying the president’s departure from the South Lawn noticed employees taking containers into the residence for packing up the primary household’s belongings.

And on Friday the packing continued, with shifting crates and containers dotting the ground of the workplace suite the place senior press aides work steps from the Oval Office within the West Wing. Walls within the hallways outdoors that when featured a rotating gallery of enlarged images of the president and first girl framed in gold all of a sudden have been naked, with solely the hooks that held the image frames left hanging.

Moving vans pulled out and in of the driveway outdoors.

While some folks have been requested to stay round by the incoming administration, the White House has been diminished to a skeleton crew, with extra scheduled to depart on Friday. That consists of White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Come Monday, the press employees can be down to 2.

Trump will go away Washington along with his future deeply unsure, two weeks after his supporters despatched lawmakers and congressional staffers scrambling for security as they tried to halt the peaceable transition of energy. While Trump was as soon as anticipated to go away workplace as probably the most highly effective voice within the Republican Party and the main contender for its 2024 nomination, he has been shunned by a lot of the social gathering over his response to the violence, which left 5 folks lifeless, together with a Capitol Police officer.

Trump is anticipated to be joined in Florida by a handful of aides as he mulls his future.

Latest World News