JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pause while speaking to supporters at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One for his last time as President on January 20, 2021 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump, the first president in more than 150 years to refuse to attend his successor's inauguration, is expected to spend the final minutes of his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. (Photo by Pete Marovich - Pool/Getty Images)
In his last official hours as President of the United States, Donald Trump boarded the presidential helicopter Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, and later, to his Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago.
Trump met reporters on the South Lawn of the White House for his last meeting with the press. He took no questions, but gave a prepared statement saying being president was a “great honor.” He soon boarded the Marine One with a handful of staffers and left the White House for the final time.
At the base, the outgoing president received a military sendoff and gave an address in front of several American flags. Unlike the Biden Inauguration, which did not allow spectators due to COVID-19 and security concerns, Trump spoke before a crowd of people who were not socially distanced. “We’ve accomplished a lot,” Trump said before letting outgoing First Lady Melania Trump give a short farewell.
Stepping back on Marine One, Trump walked by his family variously shaking hands and kissing cheeks of his son’s wives. In the case of his son Eric Trump, he received an unexpected floating cheek kiss.
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