Donald Trump departed 15 minutes later than scheduled from the White House, as he headed to Marine One for the last time.
President Trump boards Marine One for the last time as the 45th President of the United States along with first lady Melania Trump to head to Joint Base Andrews for farewell ceremony. https://t.co/2pnC6CISOp #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/mX0lSVUnZV
— ABC News (@ABC) January 20, 2021
He briefly spoke with reporters before boarding Marine One.
Per the pool President Trump told reporters gathered on the White House South Lawn it was a "great honor" and an "honor of a lifetime" and that he just wanted to walk over and say "goodbye.” Trump added that hopefully it would not be a long goodbye.
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) January 20, 2021
The helicopter circled the Capitol before landing at Andrews Air Force Base.
Marine One, carrying President Donald Trump for the last time, flies over the National Mall and crossing over the Capitol, where Joe Biden will be inaugurated. pic.twitter.com/k8FAHtBiP8
— DJ Judd (@DJJudd) January 20, 2021
He landed at Joint Base Andrews with the songs “Gloria and Don’t Stop Believin’” playing. He then spoke without a Teleprompter saying, “It was my greatest honor and privilege to be your president.” He praised his work and his family’s, remarking, “People have no idea how hard this family worked. they worked, and they worked for you. they could have had a much easier life, but they did a fantastic job.”
He also finally acknowledged people who have lost their lives to COVID, but he did it with a xenophobic comment:
“First thing we have to do is pay our respects and our love to the incredible people and families who suffered so gravely from the China virus. It’s a horrible thing that was put onto the world. We all know where it came from, but it’s a horrible, horrible thing, so be careful, be very, very careful.”
"I will be watching, I will be listening, and I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success….They have the foundation to do something really spectacular" Trump says of incoming @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/qQWWes1p19
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 20, 2021
The speech lasted about 10 minutes and ended with him saying, “We will be back in some form.”
https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1351890180995751945
As Air Force One took off Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played with the words, “I did it my way” blaring.
BREAKING: With "My Way" playing at his farewell ceremony, Pres. Trump departs in Air Force One for Florida just hours ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration. https://t.co/qjeUynJUdz #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/M4pNRZpH8A
— ABC News (@ABC) January 20, 2021