Outgoing President Donald Trump has left the White House on Marine One for the final time Wednesday, pumping his fist and giving a thumbs-up as he walked with Melania to the start of a new life.
He became the first president since 1869 to snub his successor’s inauguration, finalizing the snub when the helicopter took flight. The only people gathered outside to wish him goodbye were the press, to whom he briefly spoke to them before getting on board.
Trump walked over to reporters at 8.12 a.m., telling them ‘thank you,’ saying it had been a ‘great honour’ and the ‘honour of a lifetime’ to be president. He took no questions.
The outgoing first couple were not accompanied by their 14-year-old son, Barron. He was already on Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews.
In bright sunshine, Marine One flew over a capital city in the grip of an unprecedented lockdown, with 25,000 National Guard troops on the streets and authorized to use lethal force in the wake of the MAGA riot.
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‘It has been a great honour and an amazing four years,’ he said jovially before he walked to Marine One. Melania was dressed in all black, wearing black sunglasses and carrying an alligator Hermes Birkin bag which are worth more than $50,000.
In a glaring split-screen moment defining the end of the Trump years, Joe Biden was about to leave Blair House, the White House’s official guest house, to go to mass with his wife Jill and Congressional leaders.
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Trump was flying to Joint Base Andrews to speak in front of Air Force One to a small crowd of supporters.
Trump’s early departure for Florida has caused a logistical and security nightmare since he is taking with him the nuclear codes. They will then be flown back to DC to be handed over to Biden this afternoon.
On Tuesday night, Trump made one of his final acts in office granting pardons to dozens of rappers, millionaires and strategists, including his old friend Steve Bannon.
This year, due to the ongoing pandemic and fears of a security threat, the mall – where thousands normally line up to greet the new President and First Lady – will be closed to the public.
A smaller-than-usual crowd of guests including former Presidents and lawmakers will attend the inauguration ceremony in a socially-distanced manner instead.
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