Trump plans to leave Washington before the inauguration because he doesn't want to fly out as an ex-president or ask Biden to borrow Air Force One, report says
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images
- President Donald Trump wants to leave Washington DC before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20, CNN reported.
- His aim is to avoid leaving the White House as an ex-president, CNN said. It also suggested Trump doesn't want to ask Biden if he can borrow Air Force One.
- Biden is due to be sworn in around midday on January 20, amid a heightened security presence prompted by the riot at the US Capitol.
- Trump intends to fly to Florida and his Mar-a-Lago resort, Bloomberg reported Friday, to start his post-presidential life.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
President Donald Trump wants to leave Washington DC before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration because he doesn't want to go out as an ex-president or ask to borrow Air Force One, CNN reported.
Biden is due to be inaugurated on the steps of the US Capitol on January 20, amid a heightened security presence prompted by the January 6 attack on the complex by Trump supporters.
Trump said on January 8 that he wold not attend the inauguration, a highly unusual move that has happened only a handful of times since John Adams succeeded George Washington in 1797.
making him the first departing president to refuse to attend his successor's ceremony since 1869.
Instead, CNN said, Trump will leave the White House before the midday swearing-in ceremony. His team is working on gathering a large crowd to wave him off, the network said.
Insider contacted the White House for comment on the president's plans, which have not been confirmed.
Per CNN, Trump plans to depart the White House for the final time as president in Marine One from the South Lawn, and is hoping for a military-style tribute. The network cited an unnamed source who had spoken about the plan with Trump.
Getty
Trump has not officially confirmed his destination. At one point he was rumored to be headed to to Scotland, where he owns several golf courses. However, the Scottish government made clear he would not be welcome due to its strict coronavirus lockdown.
Bloomberg reported on Friday that he would instead be travelling to stay at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Per CNN, Trump ruled out attending Biden's inauguration even though allies told him it was a good idea to go. Trump refused, the network said, on the grounds that he did not want to leave DC as a former president.
Trump was also reticent to ask Biden if he could borrow Air Force One, the official plane of the president, CNN said, citing a source.
Though leaving Washington and with it the presidency on January 20, Trump still has to travel with the "nuclear football" - a 20 kilogram briefcase that president's take with them everywhere in case of nuclear attack- until Biden is sworn in as president.
To account for this, the White House Military Office has made a second device that will stay in Washington, DC, for Biden's use, CNN said. At the moment of the switchover, Trump's codes will be deactivated.
Since losing the November election, Trump has been focussed on challenging the result and has largely stopped launching personal attacks on Biden's character.
Getty
In his final days in office Trump has been concerned with his legacy and the fallout after the House of Representatives impeached him for inciting the supporters who rioted at the Capitol.
Trump is now worried about the legal issues that may face him after he leaves office as is no longer protected by presidential immunity, according to multiple reports over the last week.
Prosecutors in New York State and Washington, DC, are investigating Trump and his organization.
In New York, Letitia James, the state's attorney general, is conducting an investigation into the Trump Organization's financial dealings, and Cyrus Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, is investigating Trump and the Trump Organization on suspicion of bank and insurance fraud.
No comments