“Why would Trump be the first president to NOT attend his successor’s inauguration?
Why would Trump be the first outgoing president to leave in Air Force One?”
These two questions are related. Because Trump chose to not attend the inauguration he left Washington while still president. Therefore the plane he flew was designated “Airforce One.” Obama and George W. Both left Washington after their successors became president. They were still honored by being allowed to take the presidential plane for their departure, however the plane is only given the call sign “Airforce One” when the current CiC President is on board. https://apnews.com/article/e5027e19553947c3b5590a21edfcde5a
You would have to also ask:
Why would Biden, as president-elect, have to travel to his “inauguration” in a private, non-government plane?
Has anyone else ever had to do this? (I really don’t know!)
These two questions are related. Because Trump chose to not attend the inauguration he left Washington while still president. Therefore the plane he flew was designated “Airforce One.” Obama and George W. Both left Washington after their successors became president. They were still honored by being allowed to take the presidential plane for their departure, however the plane is only given the call sign “Airforce One” when the current CiC President is on board. https://apnews.com/article/e5027e19553947c3b5590a21edfcde5a
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according to the monkey, neither Trump nor Pence have used the designations AF1 and AF2 in 11 days.
could it be that the MIL had taken over 11 days ago?