WASHINGTON – President Trump will leave Washington early Wednesday with a farewell ceremony at Andrews Joint Base before President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office, one of the guests told The Post.
In a break with a century of tradition, Trump will not be left to take part in the swearing-in of his successor, but will instead leave the White House and fly to his Sea-A-Lake complex aboard Air Force One around 8 p.m. in the morning, the source said.
Guests have arrived at 7:15 a.m. at Andrews Base Station in Maryland, where a crowd of hundreds of supporters and former staff will bid farewell to Trump as he leaves Washington for the last time as president.
According to Bloomberg News, which first reported on the ceremony, guests were told they can invite up to five guests and are expected to wear masks all the time.
Details of the event are yet to be finalized, but he is expected to be considered a color guard and a 21-gun salute, usually reserved as military honor.
Biden will be sworn out of the U.S. Capitol at noon in a reduced ceremony reflecting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and this month’s deadly siege in Congress.
Only a small number of guests will be allowed inside the heavily barricaded grounds of the Capitol, which will be guarded by thousands of National Guard troops.
Biden has urged his fans not to travel to DC, and the traditional Pennsylvania Avenue parade has been canceled in favor of a “virtual” parade.
Earlier this month, Trump announced he would not attend Biden’s inauguration, as he continues to claim that his election was stolen.
Vice President Mike Pence will attend the inauguration.