Washington: US President Donald Trump finally left the White House for good on Wednesday. He skipped the swearing-in ceremony of successor Joe Biden, thus breaking a great American tradition.
Biden, a polar opposite of Trump, will be the 46th President of the United States.
Trump, 74, and First Lady Melania Trump walked a short red carpet and boarded the Marine One helicopter to reach Joint Base Andrews from where they boarded the Air Force One and headed for Florida.
“I just want to say goodbye,” Trump told a sparse crowd, calling his time in office “the honour of a lifetime.”
“Have a good life, we will see you soon,” he said.
Biden, 78, will be sworn in at noon on the US Capitol’s western front.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will also take the oath of office.
The general public is barred from attending the swearing-in in light of the pandemic.
Trump is yet to personally congratulate Biden.
