Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Departing Obama: Backers proved ‘power of hope’
WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama exited the presidency Friday with a message of gratitude to Americans and a plea to his supporters not to be bowed by the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
“You proved the power of hope,” Obama said before departing Washington.
In a farewell speech at Andrews Air Force Base before boarding the presidential plane for the last time, Obama said he’d been met by skepticism and doubt throughout his eight years in office by some who “didn’t think we could pull it off.”
Obama said his supporters had transcended the obstacles posed by entrenched political powers by finding bonds of unity with Americans of all stripes.
He called that kind of fortitude “hope in the face of difficulty.”
“Michelle and I, we’ve just been your front-men and women,” Obama said. “It has always been about you, and all the amazing things that happened over these last 10 years are really just a testament to you.”
Then Obama said goodbye to a crowd of 1,800 gathered to bid him farewell. He stopped to give hugs and handshakes to staffers and military members who had served his administration over two terms.
His last day in office started like any other: in the White House residence with his family. Yet by midmorning, Obama and his wife were welcoming Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump to the White House for a reception before accompanying them to the Capitol for Trump’s swearing-in.
Obama wrote a welcome note to Trump that he left in the Oval Office, and smiled as he stood alongside Trump at his swearing-in.
“This is just a little pit stop,” Obama said minutes later at the air base. “This is not a period, this is a comma in the continuing story of building America.”
Obama and his wife boarded a helicopter and flew to the air force base to speak to supporters in an airplane hangar.
The Obamas then left to Palm Springs, Calif., for a family vacation. The Obamas will return to Washington at a later date. The family has rented a home until youngest daughter, Sasha, finishes high school.