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- President Donald Trump is planning a made-for-TV White House exit to steal attention from President-elect Joe Biden’s January 20 inauguration, Axios reported.
- According to the outlet, Trump is planning on flying to Florida on Air Force One to stage a rally at the same time Biden is sworn in at a socially-distanced inauguration in Washington, DC.
- If Trump follows through with the plans it would break with Inauguration Day traditions designed to showcase the stability of US democracy.
- Usually the president welcomes the president-elect to the White House and accompanies them to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.
- Last week Biden said he personally didn’t care if Trump attends his inauguration, but that Trump should go to demonstrate a peaceful transfer of power.
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President Donald Trump is planning a spectacular, made-for-TV exit from the White House in a bid to steal viewers from President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, Axios reported Sunday, citing sources familiar with the talks.
According to the outlet, one scenario being discussed is having Trump boycott Biden’s inauguration – in a break with America’s democratic traditions – and attend a rally in Florida.
Under that plan, according to Axios, Trump would leave the White House on January 20 in Marine One then take Air Force One to Florida, where he would address his supporters at a rally timed to coincide with Biden’s socially-distanced inauguration outside the US Capitol.
White House spokesman Judd Deere told Axios: «Anonymous sources who claim to know what the President is or is not considering have no idea. When President Trump has an announcement about his plans for Jan. 20 he will let you know.»
Sources told NBC News last week that Trump is also planning to announce his candidacy for the 2024 election on Inauguration Day in a bid to steal the limelight from Biden and set himself up as Biden’s chief political opponent.
Last week Biden told CNN that he personally doesn’t care if Trump attends his inauguration, but said it would be important to show a peaceful transfer of power.
Since losing the election, Trump has ignored numerous traditions designed to ensure a peaceful transfer of power and show the stability of American democracy.
The president has still refused to concede the election to Biden, maintaining that the election was stolen from him as a result of a vast conspiracy – while providing no convincing evidence of the allegation.
He has refused to invite Biden to the White House, a courtesy traditionally extended by incumbents to the victor, and delayed his administration’s transition to Biden’s team for weeks.
There has even been speculation among former Secret Service officials that Trump would refuse to leave the White House.
Multiple reports have said that Trump is planning to leverage his continuing popularity with the Republican Party base to maintain control over the party after he leave the White House – a plan that may involve starting a conservative news network to rival Fox News.