Trump ‘planning opposing rally’ on Biden’s inauguration day

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Outgoing president Donald Trump is reportedly gearing up to outshine the next president Joe Biden on his inauguration day by planning a grand opposing rally announcing his 2024 bid.

Mr Trump is planning to exit with a dramatic event using all his powers as a president, according to a report by Axios, citing sources close to the president. Mr Trump’s grand White House departure will reportedly include a final Air Force One flight to Florida, a split-screen to address the crowd in an airport hangar, and other such eyeball grabbing tactics.

While president-elect Joe Biden is scheduled to be sworn-in on 20 January in a low-key event forgoing the traditional inaugural balls and parades due to the pandemic, the outgoing president comes all guns blazing in the rival event.

Earlier, NBC quoted sources close to the president saying that he is planning to skip the swearing-in event of Joe Biden and may not even invite him and his wife Dr Jill Biden to visit the White House, as per the custom according to which he was also invited by the Obamas in 2016.

Mr Trump’s attempts at hogging the limelight may not come as a surprise as he has been hinting at a 2024 bid for long. He hasn’t publicly announced the grand rally yet or clarified whether or not he would attend the inaugural event, but recently he was seen admitting for the first time in front of Republican national committee members that he would be willing to run for president again.

In several videos of the White House Christmas party, accessed by Politico and other US media, Mr Trump said he will see them again “in four years” as the crowd cheered him.

“It’s been an amazing four years,” the president told the group. “We are trying to do another four years. Otherwise, I’ll see you in four years.”