President Donald Trump departed the White House by helicopter just after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, on his way to a ceremonial send-off at Joint Base Andrews for his final day in office.

Trump told gathered reporters it had been a great honour and an amazing four years. Breaking with decades of tradition, Trump will not participate in the peaceful transition of power and is skipping the inauguration.

“We’ve had an amazing four years,” Trump said.

The outgoing president typically departs shortly after the incoming president is sworn in. But Trump, who fought bitterly to overturn the results of the 2020 election, is skipping President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, instead opting to orchestrate his own fanfare-filled exit while he is still commander-in-chief.

(NBC)