Trump exits Washington, returns to Mar-a-Lago while being cheered by supporters.
Supporters gather to greet former president
WEST PALM BEACH — Donald Trump arrived at his Mar-a-Lago Club resort on Wednesday, ensconcing himself behind the walls of his South Florida club minutes before his term ended and Joe Biden became the U.S. president.
As the nation’s leaders gathered at the Capitol, Air Force One touched down at Palm Beach International Airport, the presidential plane ferrying Trump to Florida for the last time.
Supporters had been gathering for hours along Southern Boulevard between the airport and Trump’s Palm Beach resort. His final presidential motorcade inched slowly along the route to Mar-a-Lago as supporters waved signs and cheered.
“We want to show him he’s not alone,” said Daniel Rakus, 65, of Palm Beach. “He did a great job. We support him.”
Many of the former president’s supporters believe his false claims that he didn’t really lose the election. Other well-wishers acknowledged the defeat but said they wanted to show him they were still with him.
Air Force One started down the runway at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington at 9 a.m. and was airborne a minute later. At about 10:55 a.m., it touched down at Palm Beach International Airport.
At 11:08 a.m., he emerged with First Lady Melania Trump at his side, waved, and immediately got into the waiting presidential SUV at the bottom of the stairs.
Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Eric Trump and his wife Lara, descended the stairs from Air Force One after Trump got in his SUV. Daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner weren’t on the flight.
When the presidential aircraft flew over, one man yelled excitedly, “Air Force One! Air Force One!” Brief chants arose later. “Never Biden!” one man yelled. “Donald Trump is still my president!” yelled another.
Pro-Trump activists had put out email blasts calling for supporters to line Southern Boulevard from the airport to the bridge in West Palm Beach that leads to Palm Beach and Mar-aLago.
Many supporters showed up, but the route wasn’t packed the entire way. About 1,000 people were on either side of Southern Boulevard from Dixie Highway to the bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway.
Charles Zelden, a professor of history and legal studies who specializes in politics and voting at Nova Southeastern University, said any president would receive a welcome-home greeting.
But he said the passion shown by Trump supporters is unusual.
“There are a lot of true believers in Florida. For whatever reason, Florida really became Trump country,” Zelden said.
A few people came out Wednesday to object to Trump and welcome the Biden presidency.
Luis Garcia stood waving a black-and-gold sign that read “Fire Fighters for Biden Harris.”
Garcia, a 54-year-old retired Boynton Beach firefighter, said Trump supporters didn’t appreciate his sign.
“They’ve been in my face, they’ve been screaming at me, they’ve been yelling at me, and all I’m doing is holding a sign,” said Garcia, who said he was a lifelong Republican until Trump. “I don’t engage.”