Trump: We will be back in some form
OUTGOING US president Donald Trump hinted that he will attempt to return to the White House by promising his supporters he’ll be “back in some form”.
After four tumultuous years the political maverick departed but said he hoped it was not a “longterm” goodbye.
President Trump, 74, and First Lady Melania, 50, held hands as they walked across the lawn to board Marine One for a flight to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
The presidential helicopter circled the US capital to give Trump a last view of the White House and its surroundings.
Ever the showman, he emerged from the aircraft to the song Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey being blasted out of speakers on the tarmac. It was the first of several rousing songs chosen by Trump to punctuate the day.
Before he got on Air Force One to fly to his home in Palm Beach, Florida, he gave his last tubthumping speech as America’s 45th President, saying: “This is a great, great country. It is my greatest honour and privilege to have been your President.”
He ended with: “So just a goodbye, we love you, we will be back in some form.”
In keeping with pomp and pageantry he had demanded, he was given a red carpet and a 21-gun salute as a military band played.
A raucous crowd of partisan supporters waved flags and chanted “Thank you Trump” as he said: “This has been an incredible four years, we’ve accomplished so much together. It’s been something very special.”
His five children were there to witness his goodbye rally, including Donald Jnr, Eric, Tiffany and 14-year-old Barron, as well as several grandchildren. His farewell flourish left daughter Ivanka, 39, in tears and having to be comforted by her husband Jared Kushner.
Melania, wearing a black buttoned Chanel jacket over a pencil dress, also gave a short speech, saying: “Being First Lady was my greatest honour.
“Thank you for your support. You will be in my thoughts and prayers, God bless you all, God bless the family and God bless this beautiful nation.”
President Trump listed a string of boasts, saying his administration had been responsible for an American renaissance that had seen record employment, massive tax cuts and improved care for military veterans.
He also made reference to Covid, or the “China virus” as he called it, and said although the “whole world suffered”, America outperformed other countries because of its “incredible economy”.
Then he bragged about the number of votes he polled in November and warned America to be careful what it wished for. “You get 75 million votes in the history of sitting presidents. It is an alltime record by many millions, really just an honour.
“Our people are happy, the military is thrilled. We got tax cuts, the largest tax cut and reform in the history of the country by far. Hope they don’t raise your taxes. If they do, I told you so.”
Playing on his anti-establish
ment credentials he said: “Four years ago I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency.
“I had not spent my career as a politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and imagining infinite possibilities. I ran for president because I knew there were towering new summits for America just waiting to be scaled.”
Towards the end he wished the new administration “great luck and great success”, promising that he’d be “watching and listening”.
Trump is the first president to be impeached twice and the first to skip his successor’s inauguration since 1869.
However, he did keep one tradition and left a note for his successor in a drawer of the presidential desk in the Oval Office. The contents have not been revealed.