Home Australia Trump waves Biden goodbye: Donald and Melania bid Joe farewell as Jill gives Kamala a final hug

Trump waves Biden goodbye: Donald and Melania bid Joe farewell as Jill gives Kamala a final hug

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President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden attend a farewell ceremony in front of the US Capitol.

In the end, everyone hugged him.

Despite bitter rivalries still simmering in the hours before Monday’s inauguration, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Jill Biden behaved graciously for the cameras, offering their enemies best wishes and hugs as they the country was transitioning to a new leader.

The quibbles came as Joe and Jill Biden left the Capitol shortly after Trump was sworn in.

As Donald and Melania Trump stood alongside the Bides on the steps of the Capitol, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff came over to say goodbye.

Harris shook hands with the Trumps, her first acknowledgment of her presidential rival, whom she pointedly ignored at Jimmy Carter’s state funeral in December.

The interaction was brief, but symbolic. He quickly went on to hug Joe Biden.

But even more notable, Jill Biden gave Harris a long hug, a gesture that came amid reports of a strained relationship between the two women. The former first lady is said to have held a grudge against Harris since the 2020 Democratic primary.

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden attend a farewell ceremony in front of the US Capitol.

Both the Biden and Harris families are angry at each other after Trump’s victory: Harris feels that Biden’s exit from the July race let her down, forcing her to mount a fast and furious presidential campaign. Biden feels like he could have won and has said so publicly, pushing the knife even deeper into Harris’ side.

On Monday, however, the two couples appeared melancholy as they prepared to leave Washington, DC after four years in power.

Emhoff followed his wife’s lead, shaking hands with the Trumps and giving Jill, with whom he is close, a long hug.

As the former vice president and second gentleman walked away, Jill wiped her eye.

Then it was time for the Bidens to leave Washington, ending more than 50 years of public service.

The Trumps accompanied them to the Nighthawk helicopter, which is known as Marine One when a president travels in it. Melania hung her hat on the windy day.

Trump hugged Jill Biden and then put his arm around Joe Biden, leaning in to speak closely. He slapped him on the arm playfully as Biden smiled at him.

Melania and Jill exchanged a long hug.

Jill Biden gives Kamala Harris a long hang while Joe Biden shakes hands with Doug Emhoff and Donald Trump watches the goodbyes.

Jill Biden gives a long hang to Kamala Harris while Joe Biden shakes hands with Doug Emhoff and Donald Trump watches the goodbyes.

Donald Trump chats with Joe Biden and Jill Biden hugs Melania Trump

Donald Trump chats with Joe Biden and Jill Biden hugs Melania Trump

Second Lady Usha Vance, Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Joe and Jill Biden leaving the Capitol

Second lady Usha Vance, Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet Joe and Jill Biden as they leave the Capitol.

The helicopter carrying Joe and Jill Biden leaves the Capitol

The helicopter carrying Joe and Jill Biden leaves the Capitol

The warm farewell mirrored the greeting the Bidens gave the Trumps when they arrived at the White House that morning.

“Welcome home,” Biden told Trump.

The two men joked about the weather, a lip-reading expert told DailyMail.com, as they posed for photographs on the North Portico of the White House.

‘Let me fix my coat. ā€œIā€™m freezing,ā€ Trump told Biden.

“I’m frozen too,” Biden responded.

‘Shut up,’ Trump told him as Biden laughed.

The men traveled together to the Capitol in the presidential limousine known as The Beast.

Biden watched his successor take the oath of office and then it was time to say goodbye. His suitcases were packed. Movers were at the White House, removing the Bidens’ belongings and moving the Trump family.

The Bidens boarded their helicopter without looking back.

They flew away, flying over the White House and passing the Lincoln Memorial as part of their final journey.

The Trumps, JD and Usha Vance were on the steps of the Capitol, waving goodbye as it flew away.

Joe and Jill Biden say goodbye as they board the 747 known as SAM 46

Joe and Jill Biden say goodbye as they board the 747 known as SAM 46

Melania Trump holds her hat while Donald Trump talks to Jill Biden

Melania Trump holds her hat while Donald Trump talks to Jill Biden

The last members of Joe Biden's White House staff leave the Capitol on Inauguration Day

The last members of Joe Biden’s White House staff leave the Capitol on Inauguration Day

Helicopter carrying former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden flies over the Lincoln Memorial

Helicopter carrying former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden flies over the Lincoln Memorial

The Bidens walk to their plane

The Bidens walk to their plane

A crowd of former Biden staffers and supporters waited for the former president at Joint Base Andrews, shouting and cheering as he and Jill walked toward them.

Biden expressed gratitude for her service.

“We’re really grateful,” he said. “No president can choose when he enters history, but he can choose which team he does it with and we choose the best damn team in the world.”

Biden has repeatedly said he will remain involved in public life, a point he reiterated as he prepared for his next steps, which include establishing his presidential library and overhauling the Biden Foundation.

‘We are leaving office. We will not abandon the fight,’ he stated.

“I love you all,” he concluded. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’

He then spent some time talking and taking selfies before boarding the huge blue and white 747 and heading up the stairs one last time.

This time he and Jill paused and turned to say goodbye.

The Bidens are headed to Santa Ynez, California, where they spent some time on vacation in August.

They will spend time with family. His son Hunter lives in the state. Like his granddaughter Naomi, who gave birth to her first great-grandchild a few weeks ago.

But his flight will no longer be Air Force One, the designation of the plane carrying the president of the United States.

The flight will be known simply as Air Force Special Mission 46. The number honors Biden as the 46th president.

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