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Donald Trump said goodbye to his office as US President with a recorded speech.
In the approximately 20-minute speech he describes the history of his presidency - from
his
point of view.
Donald Trump, US President
"We have embarked on a mission to make America great again - for all Americans."
Trump said he was proud of what his administration had achieved.
The current president spoke as if
these
pictures and everything that led to the storming of the Capitol had not existed.
Donald Trump, US President
»We did what we wanted to do - and a lot more.
A new administration will be introduced this week.
We pray that it will be successful and that America will remain safe and prosperous.
We send our best regards and wish them luck too. «
Months before the presidential election was lost, Trump had begun to cast doubts on the US electoral system, and after his defeat he talked about a "stolen election".
He split the US, inciting his supporters, some of whom stormed the Capitol on January 6th.
In his farewell speech - probably one of the few speeches in which he once did not speak of electoral fraud - it all sounds very, very different:
Donald Trump, US President
»We must never forget that while we Americans may not always agree, we are still a nation of incredibly decent, loyal and peace-loving citizens.
Everyone wants this country to thrive and be very, very successful and good.
We are a truly great nation.
All Americans were horrified by the attack on our Capitol.
Political violence is an attack on everything we as Americans value, it can never be tolerated. "
For minutes, Trump then enumerates what his administration has achieved: - Tax cuts, exit from the Paris climate agreement, the ramp-up of oil and natural gas production.
One point seems to be particularly important to Trump:
Donald Trump, US President
"We are proud to hand over to the next administration the toughest border security measures that have ever existed."
The President did not mention the name of his successor Joe Biden in his speech.
One day before their inauguration, Biden and Kamala Harris commemorated the 400,000 US victims of the corona pandemic.
You have announced that you will reunite the USA - probably also to restore the country's tarnished image in the world.
If you believe Trump, that is not necessary at all.
Donald Trump, US President
»The world respects us again.
Please don't lose this respect. "
For all those who had hoped to finally get rid of Donald Trump by being voted out of office, the current president had a disturbing message:
“I fought for America and for everything it stands for: safe, strong and free. Before I hand over power to a new administration at 12 noon on Wednesday, I want you to know: the movement that we started is just beginning. There has never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not wane, but will grow stronger every day. "
Incidentally, Donald Trump will not attend Joe Biden's inauguration in Washington.
He's flying one last time with Air Force One shortly before.
To Florida, to his golf resort Mar-A-Lago.