World

Donald Trump leaves White House for final time as US president

President Donald <span class="red">Trump</span> waves as he boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in Washington. <br /> <span class="red">Trump</span> is en route to his Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort after leaving the White House for the last time as president. Picture by AP /Alex Brandon
President Donald Trump waves as he boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in Washington.
Trump is en route to his Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort after leavin President Donald Trump waves as he boards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in Washington.
Trump is en route to his Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort after leaving the White House for the last time as president. Picture by AP /Alex Brandon

Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as US president.

Mr Trump emerged from the building on Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One.

He said: "It's been a great honour, the honour of a lifetime."

Mr Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where he will have a military send-off.

A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Mr Trump to walk as he boards the plane.

Four US Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute. Mr Trump then flies to Florida, where he will stay at Mar-a-Lago.

Mr Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president.

It is the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successor's inauguration.