OVER & DON
But National Guard out in force to ensure peace at Biden inauguration
DONALD Trump’s presidency comes to a juddering halt today – after four years of rabid tweets, dishonesty, wild tirades and hailing far-right extremists as “very fine people”.
He peddled his “Make America Great Again” mantra to the bitter end but leaves the US more divided than ever as Joe Biden prepares to be sworn in as the 46th Commander-in-Chief.
At least 25,000 National Guard soldiers will protect the Capitol in an unprecedented operation to make sure that Trump loyalists do not hijack the inauguration.
The extra military presence, more than double any previous ceremony’s precautions, follows the Trump-incited riots there two weeks ago.
The National Guard Bureau chief yesterday played down fears of violence after it emerged the FBI has vetted all ARMED National Guard soldier at Capitol yesterday military personnel at the event over concerns an attack could come from their ranks. General Daniel Hokanson said: “It’s not a threat for me, I’m not concerned about that at all. We don’t allow extremism of any type in our organisation.” Despite his assurance, 12 National Guard soldiers were removed from their scheduled event duties for possible ties to extremist groups. Inquiries uncovered no plot against Biden. He will take the oath of office at about 5pm GMT – but his predecessor is due to flee Washington hours before the inauguration even starts. Trump is still furious about his election defeat and baselessly claims the presidency was “stolen” from him in a rigged ballot. After the riots, in which five people died, he announced that he would not be attending the ceremony – the first outgoing
leader not to participate in 152 years. Last night, he released a farewell address, declaring he was “especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars”.
He also reflected on the violence that marred his final days in office and left him facing a Senate trial after being impeached over his conduct leading up to it.
“All Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol,” he said. “Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated.
“Now, as I prepare to hand power to a new administration, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning.”
Biden earlier gave an emotional speech about his late son Beau, saying it was he who should be inaugurated today.
Tears streamed down his face as he said: “I only have one regret – that Beau is not here, because we should be introducing him as president.” Biden was speaking at his home town of Wilmington, Delaware, before flying to IN & OUT Happy Joe Biden and Trump the grump
Washington. Delaware attorney general Beau was killed by brain cancer, aged 46, in 2015. Trump – in a final burst of presidential pomp to massage his wounded ego – will today fly to his Florida home aboard Air Force One. He is expected to depart early in the morning and arrive at his Palm Beach resort by the time Biden is being sworn in. Sources say Trump was adamant he wanted to leave Washington as president and hated the thought of having to ask his successor to let him use the aircraft. He will be afforded a military-style send-off at Joint Base Andrews and it is expected that a crowd of supporters will wave him goodbye. It is not known if he will follow tradition by leaving Biden a letter in the Oval Office. Sources say it is unlikely.
His fury is reported to have been heightened by seeing that Biden has attracted a star-studded line-up to his inauguration – a sharp contrast to his own four years ago.
An estimated 191,000 US flags will be flown to represent the number of Americans now unable to be there due to Covid.
Yesterday, Trump’s former allies continued to distance themselves from him. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said the president “provoked” the MAGA riot and the “mob was fed lies”.
Ex-Attorney General Bill Barr said Trump helped fuel the Capitol invasion by his allegations of election fraud.
Biden is expected to waste no time in undoing many Trump policies in order to “restore America’s place in the world”.
He is poised to rejoin the Paris Agreement on the climate crisis and rescind the travel ban on Muslims immediately.
It is also claimed he is keen to patch things up with Britain and “knows how essential the Special Relationship is”.