Donald Trump has departed the White House as President, a few hours before Joe Biden’s inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America.
Trump who has refused to concede claiming he won the Presidential election with a huge margin, while also alleging vote fraud, was photographed boarding the Marine One presidential helicopter with his wife, Melania Trump as they depart for Florida.
While leaving the White House, Trump spoke with reporters where he said:
“It’s been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime. The greatest people in the world, the greatest home in the world,” Trump told reporters before heading to Marine One, rotors whirring, on South Lawn.
“We accomplished a lot.”
“We have the greatest country and economy in the world. We were hit so hard by the pandemic. We did something that is considered a medical miracle- the vaccine which was developed in 9 months,” he further said.
“I will always fight for you. I will be watching, listening. The future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and success. I think they have the foundation to do something really spectacular.”
Trump who has earlier told the world that he will not be attending the Biden’s inauguration, left early before the event on Wednesday. He is clearly keeping to his promise of allowing a peaceful transfer of power to the next administration.
Trump came to power four years ago with a focus on what he called America’s “forgotten men and women.” But now he stands perhaps to be remembered most not for what he did in the White House, but instead for an insurrection two weeks ago, when his supporters stormed the very spot where Biden will take his oath of office.
A week later, the Democratic-led House of Representatives made Trump the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twice. This latest time for inciting the Jan. 6 riot as Congress gathered to certify the results of an election that the president had repeatedly and falsely said had been stolen from him.
The Senate is set to consider whether to take steps that could bar Trump from another run for office.
He also pardoned some individuals as his last duty as the President of the United States.