The Armed Forces Farewell is a custom dating back to the end of Ronald Reagan’s presidential term in 1989, when he famously thanked the military “on behalf of all America”.
Since then, a tribute ceremony has been hosted for each commander-in-chief as they leave office, but in a break with tradition, President Donald Trump will receive no such honour.
US defence and national security website Defense One broke the news there will be no grand military spectacle, no 21-gun salute for the 45th president of the United States, as his request was rejected by the Pentagon.
“Two senior defense officials confirmed to Defense One on Thursday [January 14] that no military farewell is being planned for the commander in chief,” the website wrote.
In a January 16 letter written by Congresswoman Jackson Lee and several colleagues to senior Pentagon officials, Ms Lee reinforced their “strong objection” that any resources be used to “support a disruptive departure ceremony”.
It wasn’t clear where the military parade would have taken place – at the White House, the Joint Base Andrews or in Palm Beach. What is certain is that Mr Trump’s term officially ends at 12pm on January 20 amid media reports suggest he will most likely be at his Mar-a-Lago club in South Florida, or playing golf.
Last week, Donald Trump became the first president in US history to be impeached twice.
The House of Representatives impeached Mr Trump, accusing him of inciting an insurrection against Congress after a violent mob of thousands of pro-Trump supported attacked the Capitol just after he held a ‘Stop the Steal’ rally.
Five people died during the riots, including one police officer. Dozens were injured and many more were identified and charged by FBI investigators, including placing many on No Fly travel bans.
The Senate trial to determine whether to remove him cannot begin until January 19, his final full day in office. That means any conviction would almost certainly not be completed until after he leaves the White House.
While President-elect Joe Biden celebrates his inauguration with the cream of the crop on January 20 after spending the eve at a nearby hotel rather, Mr Trump is expected to lay low.
The theme of the event will be “America United”, and “will honor inaugural traditions while safely allowing more Americans than ever before to participate from their own homes.”
The incoming president will be sworn in on the steps of the Capitol building, with two of his aides promising the ceremony will be a safe, outdoor event despite ongoing security threats.
Mr Trump will not attend any of the inauguration celebrations, declining an invitation despite a long-held tradition of incumbents welcoming their newly elected president.
He has also declined to participate in any of the customary hand-over rituals.
A top spokesperson for Mr Biden, Kate Bedington has revealed more details about the upcoming inauguration.
“Our plan and our expectation is that President-elect Biden will put his hand on the Bible, with his family, outside, on the west side of the Capitol,” Ms Bedington said.
The Capitol building, which houses Congress, was attacked this month by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.
There are concerns about the potential for violence in the coming days by domestic extremists.
According to Ms Bedington, holding the inauguration outdoors on the steps of the very building that was attacked has symbolic value.
“I think that will send an incredibly important visual image to the world about the resilience of American democracy,” she said.
Washington is facing tight security measures, with areas around the city centre, including the National Mall, shut down and thousands of National Guard troops deployed to the capital city amid fears of more violence.
Fences have been erected, cement blocks laid down and heavy trucks used to block traffic along main streets of the capital and arteries around the city, amid what the Federal Bureau of Investigations called “online chatter” of potential attacks by Trump loyalists.
Incoming White House chief of staff Ronald Klain said while the threats are concerning, he is confident the Secret Service will “keep the inauguration itself safe”.
Mr Klain admitted Mr Biden was “inheriting a huge mess” from President Trump with regards to the virus and that tackling the pandemic will be the top priority.
An impeachment trial in the Senate, the upper legislative chamber, will likely only start after Mr Trump leaves office.
-with agencies
