Trump Leaves White House for Last Time as President, Hours Before Biden’s Inauguration

Outgoing US President Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time of his presidency, ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden.

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Trump took a helicopter to the nearby Andrews base, where he is expected to speak before boarding the Air Force One plane for Florida.

He is the first president to snub his successor’s inauguration since 1869.

Biden will take the oath of office by noon (17:00 GMT) in Washington, which has been fortified following a deadly riot at the Capitol this month.

Some 25,000 troops will guard the inauguration ceremony, which will be missing the traditional hundreds of thousands of spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Alongside Biden, Kamala Harris will make history when she is sworn in as the nation’s first woman vice-president.

Ahead of his inauguration Biden on Wednesday set out 15 executive actions he would take immediately, covering climate, equality, immigration and coronavirus.

Biden will be sworn in as 46th president of the United States by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts outside the US Capitol.

There is extra-tight security after the Capitol was breached by violent pro-Trump protesters on 6 January.

Among those present will be three former presidents: Barack Obama – whom Biden served for eight years as vice-president – Bill Clinton and George W Bush.

Outgoing Vice-President Mike Pence will also attend the ceremony, skipping Trump’s farewell military salute event at Andrews base.

Aides say Biden, a Democrat, will use his inaugural address of about half an hour to deliver an optimistic call for national unity after his Republican predecessor’s turbulent tenure.

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