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Donald Trump vows 'we will be back' as he leaves White House after four years as president

Mr Trump is greeted by supporters in Florida as he boycotts Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony.

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Trump vows return in final speech
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Donald Trump has left the White House after four years as US president, but insisted: "We will be back in some form."

Mr Trump boycotted Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony in Washington DC and instead flew to Florida to stay at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

He smiled and waved at supporters who greeted him in Florida, with some waving flags and holding placards including one which read: "Still my president."

Live updates as Joe Biden is sworn in as US president

Donald Trump gave a thumbs-up to supporters after arriving in Florida. Pic: AP
Image: Donald Trump gave a thumbs-up to supporters after arriving in Florida. Pic: AP
Trump supporters waved at his motorcade as he travelled to his Mar-a-Lago resort. Pic: AP
Image: Trump supporters waved at his motorcade as he travelled to his Mar-a-Lago resort. Pic: AP

Before boarding Air Force One, Mr Trump said it had been "an incredible" four years and thanked his family watching on, with some of his children appearing emotional.

"As the athletes would say, we left it all on the field," he said.

"It has been my greatest honour and privilege to have been your president."

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Trump lists achievements in final speech

Mr Trump, who has refused to publicly concede to Mr Biden, wished the new administration "great luck and great success" - but said: "We will be back in some form."

Earlier, as he walked out of the White House, Mr Trump said: "I just want to say goodbye but hopefully it's not a long-term goodbye. We'll see each other again."

Mr Trump is the first president to skip his successor's inauguration since Andrew Johnson in 1869, and only the fourth to have done so in history.

However he did follow one presidential tradition, with the White House confirming Mr Trump left a note for Mr Biden - although no further details about the message have been revealed.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stop to talk with the media as they walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House. Pic: AP
Image: Mr Trump said 'hopefully it's not a long term goodbye' as he left the White House. Pic: AP

Mr Trump arrived in Florida as guests, including former US presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W Bush, began taking their seats at Mr Biden's inauguration.

Television coverage of the ceremony was playing on the plane during Mr Trump's flight, the Associated Press reported.

Mr Trump's family was also on board and the outgoing president spent some of the flight meeting staff who went up to say goodbye.

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Trump's last appearance as serving president

As he left the White House earlier, Mr Trump held hands with First Lady Melania Trump as he walked across the lawn before waving as he boarded the Marine One helicopter.

The helicopter took him to Joint Base Andrews where Air Force One was waiting to fly him to Florida.

His send-off was complete with a red carpet up to the steps of the plane, a military band and a 21-gun salute.

Mrs Trump also spoke briefly at the event, saying: "Being your first lady was my greatest honour."

President Donald Trump listens as First Lady Melania Trump speaks before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. Pic: AP
Image: First Lady Melania Trump spoke briefly to supporters. Pic: AP
The Trump family attended Donald Trump's leaving ceremony
Image: The Trump family attended Donald Trump's leaving ceremony

Vice President Mike Pence skipped the event, citing the logistical challenges of getting from the air base to the inauguration ceremony.

In his final recorded address as president on Tuesday, Mr Trump said he will "pray for the success" of Mr Biden's administration - but claimed the political movement he created "is only just beginning".

He said: "As I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. There's never been anything like it.

"The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day."

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'We pray for the new administration'

Mr Trump's final action as president saw him pardon or grant clemency to 143 people including his former chief strategist Steve Bannon and rapper Lil Wayne.

Bannon, who was fired by Mr Trump in August 2017, has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of swindling Trump supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the US-Mexico border wall.

Wayne pleaded guilty last month to possessing a loaded, gold-plated handgun on a private flight in 2019 and is due to be sentenced next week.

Mr Biden's inauguration ceremony took place in front of a heavily fortified US Capitol, where a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building two weeks ago.

Trump's defenders who went to Washington
Trump's defenders who went to Washington

The violence, which left five people dead, prompted the US House of Representatives to impeach Mr Trump last week for an unprecedented second time.

He was charged with incitement of insurrection after he was accused of firing up the rioters with false claims that
November's presidential election was stolen with millions of fraudulent votes.

Instead of supporters gathering to see Mr Biden sworn in, the National Mall was covered by nearly 200,000 flags and 56 pillars of light meant to represent people from US states and territories.

Analysis: Trump looked reluctant to leave the stage - but hinted US politics hasn't seen the last of him

By Greg Milam, US correspondent

It was almost inevitable that Donald Trump's departure from the presidency would be unlike any America has seen before.

It was choreographed to a T - Air Force One lifting off from the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland just as the swelling crescendo of Frank Sinatra's My Way filled the air.

He was treated to some of the military pomp he had wanted, the Air Force band and a 21-gun salute, but it probably wasn't the full hoopla he had hoped for.

Trump had looked reluctant to leave the stage for the final time.

The lingering thank yous and goodbyes came with a hint that American politics has not seen the last of him. That brought the biggest cheer of the day.

Until then he had pretty much rehashed his campaign stump speech for the small and loyal band of supporters, touting his accomplishments and approval rating and imploring his supporters to "remember us" when the credit is being shared around when America rebounds from the pandemic.

The tears flowed from his children standing watching.

With that he and the first lady were off. Let the record show, he certainly did it his way.