Trump leaves White House vowing ‘we will be back’

Donald Trump has vowed he will be “back in some form” after departing the White House for the final time as president.

He told supporters as he prepared to fly to Florida that it had been “a great honour to be your president”.

He is the first president to snub his successor’s inauguration since 1869 but did say: “I wish the new administration great luck and great success.”

Joe Biden will take the oath of office by noon (17:00 GMT) in Washington amid heavy security.

Some 25,000 troops will guard the inauguration ceremony following a deadly riot by pro-Trump supporters at the Capitol earlier this month.

He added: “It’s been a great honour and privilege to be your president… I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening.

“I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they will have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular.”

But, as with his farewell video address on Tuesday, he did not mention Mr Biden by name.

Mr Trump added: “Goodbye. We love you. We will be back in some form. Have a good life. We will see you soon.”

He also paid tribute to his Vice-President Mike Pence, who was not at Andrews, having chosen instead to attend the inauguration ceremony.

Mr Trump will be the first president not to attend his successor’s inauguration since Andrew Johnson snubbed Ulysses S Grant in 1869.

He flew off to begin post-presidential life at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Palm Beach.

Source : BBC News