Washington correspondent
Trump left Washington as he had arrived there four years earlier: maverick.
Without attending the investiture ceremony of his successor, he left the White House a few hours earlier, around 8 a.m.
On board the presidential helicopter Marine One, he flew over a capital city under siege, passing over the dome of the Capitol, where the last act of his presidency took place on January 6, when his supporters took over. the building in full session of Congress.
The aircraft then landed on the tarmac at the Andrews base in neighboring Maryland, where the presidential Boeing 747 was waiting to take it and his family to Florida.
He was greeted one last time by the 21 protocol cannons reserved for the president, and the air
Hail to the Chief.
“I want to thank all of my family, friends, staff and so many others for being here.
I want to thank you for your efforts, your hard work
, ”Trump said, looking visibly moved.
“
People have no idea how hard this family has put in.
They worked, and they worked for you.
They could have had a much easier life, but they did a fantastic job
. "
With the exception of his five children lined up on the tarmac and a small crowd that came to greet him, Mark Meadows, the secretary general of the White House, was the last faithful present.
No member of his cabinet, no elected representative of the Republican Party came to greet him.
Mike Pence, the vice-president, had declined the invitation, citing logistical constraints since he had to attend a few hours later the nomination of Joe Biden.
Read also:
The last hours of Donald Trump in power
“
These four years have been incredible.
We have accomplished so much together!
», However launched Trump.
As if he was still in an electoral rally, he listed the successes of his tenure:
"The creation of the command of the Space Forces", "the largest economy in the world", "which we have built twice
", added Trump, referring to the pandemic that interrupted this success, and the "
medical miracle
", which allowed the development of two vaccines in nine months.
"
It would have taken nine years for another Administration,
" said Trump.
He also mentioned the appointments he made: “
One of the things we are very, very proud of is the selection of almost 300 federal judges and 3 great Supreme Court justices.
"In a less usual way, he also paid tribute to the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic:"
We show our affection to the people and families who have suffered so seriously from the Chinese virus.
It's a horrible thing that's been spread around the world.
We all know where he came from,
”Trump said.
If he refrained from pronouncing Joe Biden's name just once, during his speech as during the last weeks of his presidency, Trump nevertheless broke with his habit of systematic criticism of his opponents by wishing "
the news. Administration very much luck and success.
I think they will be very successful.
They have the basics to do something really spectacular ”.
"But if they raise taxes, I would have warned you
," Trump warned.
He also reportedly left a letter to Joe Biden in the White House, the contents of which have not yet been revealed.
The presidential Boeing then flew away, as the loudspeakers played Frank Sinatra's song,
My Way
: "
To say I did it all, if I may, without shyness, oh no I'm not. not like that, I did it my way. "
Presidential pardons
He landed a few hours later in Palm Beach, Florida, to join his extravagant club in Mar-a-Lago, his new home.
The last hours of his presidency were devoted to signing the list of presidential pardons, published on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
In all, Trump pardoned 143 people, including his former strategic advisor Steve Bannon, accused of embezzlement.
The unusually long list also includes rappers, former members of Congress and other allies of Trump who have been prosecuted or have been convicted by the courts for various reasons.
However, he did not extend these pardoning measures to himself or his family, despite persistent rumors, or to his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
Trump promised his supporters that his departure was just a goodbye, and that he would return
"one way or another."
While his popularity declined dramatically after the January 6 riot, Trump retains the unwavering support of a majority of Republican voters.
But before he can consider a return to politics, he will first have to face his impeachment trial before the Senate, which could open in the coming days, and the outcome of which remains uncertain.
As during the four years of his presidency, Donald Trump continues even after that to do nothing like the others.
