TRUMP VOWS TO ‘BE BACK IN SOME FORM’ AS TUMULTUOUS TENURE ENDS

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump left the White House and Washington for a final time as commander-in-chief on Wednesday after a tumultuous presidency stained by two impeachments, deep political divisions, and a pandemic that caused over 400,000 American deaths.

The Republican president departed the White House with his wife, Melania, saying it had been a great honour to serve and giving a final wave as he boarded the Marine One helicopter for Joint Base Andrews, where he delivered farewell remarks. “So just a goodbye. We love you. We will be back in some form,” Trump told supporters before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Florida. “Have a good life. We will see you soon.”

The plane then taxied and lifted off as Frank Sinatra’s classic song My Way played over the loudspeakers.

Trump left a note for his successor, but did not name Joe Biden in his speech.

Trump, 74, bade his farewell hours before Biden was to be inaugurated. That made him the first outgoing president since Andrew Johnson in 1869 to skip the Inauguration Day ceremony. Trump’s arrival at his Mar-alago club in Palm Beach is being timed to get him behind the wall of the resort before his term as president expires at noon.

“I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening,” Trump said in his final public remarks.

“I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they’ll have great success, ” he added.