Trump Plans His Inauguration Exit as Pence Finally Concedes To Kamala Over a Friendly Call

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Jan 15, 2021 09:58 PM EST

President Donald Trump is planning to move out of the White House on Wednesday morning, just before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Sources told ABC News that Trump had requested a big send-off to be planned for the morning of Jan. 20.

Sources familiar with Trump's plan noted that the president wanted his departure ceremony to have a military-like feel.

They said he wanted to hold a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, the usual jumping-off point for Air Force One in Maryland outside of Washington, D.C., where he would give remarks to the departing members of his administration and supporters.

However, details are not yet finalized, according to the report. Sources said Trump hopes to leave the White House with a red carpet and military honors.

They added that some sort of military flyover had been suggested. Although details of the ceremony are still under consideration, sources said it might include a color guard and a 21-gun salute.

Trump will then fly down to Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida with a small number of staffers who will be part of his post-presidency operations. The president has previously changed his travel plans in the weeks since the election, USA Today reported.

According to a U.S. News report, Trump will make his private resort his residence after his presidential term. Before he was permanently banned on Twitter last week, Trump tweeted that he would not attend Biden's swearing-in.

Trump family members are also reportedly relocating to Florida - the president's frequent destination during his term. However, some Palm Beach resort neighbors have made it clear that they do not want Trump to be around.

Trump's departure comes after the House impeached him for a second time on the grounds of inciting a riot that enveloped the U.S. Capitol last week which resulted in the deaths of at least five people, including one police officer.

Mike Pence Calls Kamala Harris Days Before Inauguration

Vice President Mike Pence called Kamala Harris on Friday to congratulate her and offer assistance, Slate reported.

Pence's move comes as he appears to have taken over many of the president's roles after the attack in U.S. Capitol, which caused the recent impeachment proceedings against Trump.

Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence are expected to attend Biden's inauguration. This with the former presidents and their families, such as the Obamas, Clintons, as well as former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush.

Meanwhile, according to the former president's spokesperson, former president Jimmy Carter will not attend the inauguration due to the pandemic and his health condition.

CNBC reported that Trump is the only president in the United States' history to be impeached twice. The House of Representatives first impeached him in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress concerning his efforts to press the government of Ukraine to investigate the Biden family. But the then GOP-controlled Senate acquitted him.

After the insurrection that took place at the Capitol, the National Guard will deploy up to 25,000 troops to Washington to assist in the Capitol's security matters. This is more than the number of U.S. service members in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan combined.