Trump to cut Florida trip short, return to Washington on Thursday

President Trump will return to Washington, D.C., on Thursday afternoon, cutting short his trip to Florida for the holidays.

According to the president’s daily schedule sent late Wednesday for the following day, Trump and the first lady “will be leaving Florida for the White House” at 11 a.m. 

The shift in plans means Trump will not be in attendance at the annual New Year’s Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, for which guests have already secured tickets. Trump has attended the annual gathering each of the past three years, typically making brief remarks to guests.

Trump’s return to Washington comes days ahead of Georgia’s Senate runoff elections and as he and his allies have continued to sow doubt about the outcome of the presidential election, which was won by President-elect Joe Biden.

The president’s trip to Florida has been filled with controversy, and Trump has at times appeared irritated by members of his own party.

While the president has golfed almost every day he has been in Florida since arriving a week ago, he has tweeted daily allegations that the election was rigged against him by making the same claims that have been debunked or dismissed in court.

His Twitter feed in recent days has included angry missives directed at Georgia officials who have upheld Biden’s win in the state after multiple recounts, as well as Republican leaders who have refused to echo the president’s allegations of voter fraud.

His return to Washington comes just shy of one week ahead of Congress formally counting Electoral College votes on Jan. 6.

Trump has also lashed out at GOP leaders who have yet to back his push for $2,000 stimulus payments to Americans. The disagreement led Trump to wait to sign off on relief and government funding legislation until several days after it had passed.

“Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP,” Trump tweeted Tuesday. “$600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 — Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!”