President Trump will be holding a farewell ceremony around the same time as President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday morning at Joint Base Andrews but one important face will not be there.
A source familiar with Vice President Mike Pence’s schedule says he and outgoing second lady Karen Pence will be attending Biden’s inauguration taking place around noon at the west front of the United States Capitol.
Pence aides tell Fox News that it would be logistically challenging for the vice president to show up at both the presidential inauguration as well as the Trump farewell ceremony, which is being held four hours earlier.
Taking to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon – on the eve of his final hours as vice president – Pence wrote “Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Vice President these past four years, it has been the greatest honor of my life. On behalf of our Wonderful Second Lady, Karen Pence, and our entire Family, Thank You and God Bless America.”
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Vice President these past four years, it has been the greatest honor of my life. On behalf of our Wonderful Second Lady, Karen Pence, and our entire Family, Thank You and God Bless America. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/chbcBfvmB9
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) January 19, 2021
Trump will depart Joint Base Andrews at around 8am ET Wednesday for his home in Florida. He will become the first president in more than a century and a half to not attend his successor’s inauguration.
Besides Pence, the top two Republicans in Congress will also not be attending the president’s send-off. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy are not expected to attend, as they’ve been invited to join Biden for a pre-inauguration church service in the nation’s capital.
The president’s family, close aides, and some supporters are expected to attend Trump’s military send-off event.
