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Biden leaves office and Washington after 50 years but says ‘we’re not leaving the fight’

A Marine helicopter carrying former President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, flies past the Lincoln Memorial, rear, after lifting from the U.S. Capitol en route to Joint Base Andrews, after the Biden's attended the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Brendan McDermid/Pool photo via AP)
A Marine helicopter carrying former President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, flies past the Lincoln Memorial, rear, after lifting from the U.S. Capitol en route to Joint Base Andrews, after the Biden's attended the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Brendan McDermid/Pool photo via AP) A Marine helicopter carrying former President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, flies past the Lincoln Memorial, rear, after lifting from the U.S. Capitol en route to Joint Base Andrews, after the Biden's attended the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Brendan McDermid/Pool photo via AP)

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE / Associated Press 3 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden on Monday wrapped up a more than 50-year political career, but promised that “we’re not leaving the fight,” as he bid farewell to the presidency and flew to California to unwind with his family and ease back into private life.

Biden spoke not long after watching his successor, Republican President Donald Trump, pledge during his inaugural address to “completely and totally reverse” everything that his Democratic predecessor did.

In the final hours before the noontime transfer of executive power, Biden extended courtesies to the man he had turned out of the Oval Office four years ago. Trump denied losing the 2020 election and refused to offer similar niceties to Biden upon his inauguration in 2021.

The bitter cold day opened with Biden and his wife, Jill, receiving Trump, and his wife, Melania, for a traditional Inauguration Day meet-and-greet over tea at the White House.

“Welcome home,” Biden told Trump.