President Barack Obama’s final Air Force One flight before he hands over the presidency to Donald Trump took him to Chicago to deliver his farewell speech as the 44th president.
It’s a tradition for outgoing presidents to take a final flight “on the famed blue-and-white aircraft,” said The Associated Press.
When Obama took office in 2008, former President George W. Bush flew on Air Force One with his wife and family to Midland, Texas.
So far, Obama plans for his final Air Force One flight just to travel to his hometown, said NDTV.com.
“At this point, the trip to Chicago will be President Obama’s final trip outside of Washington, DC as President of the United States,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed on Monday.
“I think it is likely to be his last Air Force One flight – although it is obviously tradition for the former president to take one last flight aboard the presidential aircraft at the conclusion of the inauguration,” he said, prer NDTV.
Chicago is where Obama declared victory in 2008 and 2012, noted CNN.
Obama ended his presidency with the same message he started with, “hope and change,” administration officials noted.
Officials said Obama wanted to give a farewell speech that speaks to a “forward-looking” vision for America.
“The president is primarily delivering a message to the American people, all Americans, whether they voted for President Obama or not,” Earnest said on Monday, per CNN. “The president feels an obligation to talk about what he’s learned of the last eight years, what he’s learned about the country, what he’s learned about governing the country, and offer up his advice to the American people about the most effective way to confront the challenges that we see ahead.”