Wed 20 January 2021:
Trump emerged from White House on Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One.
He said: “It’s been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.”
“I just want to say goodbye. And hopefully it’s not a long-term goodbye, we’ll see each other again. Thank you all very much,” Trump said.
Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where he’ll have a military sendoff.
A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Trump to walk as he boards the plane. Four US Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute.
Trump then flies to Florida, where he’ll stay at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president. It’s the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successor’s inauguration.
Trump: ‘We will be back in some form’
Trump arrived at Joint Base Andrews to a 21 gunshot salute.
He addressed a small crowd gathered, saying “we accomplished so much together. I want to thank all of my family and my friends and my staff and so many other people for being here.”
Trump wished the incoming administration “luck”, saying think they’ll have great success they have the foundation to do something really spectacular and we put it in a position like it’s never been before.”
He also gave a possible nod to his political future, after the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday he is mulling starting his own political party.
“I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening,” he said.
“We love you,” Trump said. “We will be back in some form.”
Trump boards Air Force One to head to Florida
Trump has boarded Air Force One after a brief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews.
He will head to Florida, a state he became a resident during his presidency.
Trump’s term will end at 12pm ET (17 GMT), but he is expected to remain a force in US politic. He has floated starting his own news network and political party.
He also continues to face several criminal investigations, as well as an impeachment trial in the senate over allegations he incited rioters who breached the US Capitol as Congress met to certify the election results on January 6.
Trump arrives in Florida
President Trump has landed in Florida, where he will spend the final hour of presidency.
Trump boarded Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews Wednesday morning, giving a brief farewell address to supporters.
He is the first president in over 150 years to not attend his successor’s inauguration.
Vice President Mike Pence, however, is attending the event.
