Donald Trump will walk out of the White House and board Marine One for the last time as president Wednesday morning, leaving behind a legacy of chaos and tumult and a nation bitterly divided.
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Four years after standing on stage at his own inauguration and painting a dire picture of "American carnage," Trump departs the office twice impeached, with millions more out of work and 400,000 dead from the coronavirus. Republicans under his watch lost the presidency and both chambers of Congress. He will be forever remembered for the final major act of his presidency: inciting an insurrection at the Capitol that left five dead, including a Capitol Police officer, and horrified the nation.
"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 love the American people, and again, it has been something very special. And I just want to say goodbye but hopefully, it's not a long-term goodbye. We'll see each other again."
Trump, 74, bid farewell to the White House hours before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated. That makes him the first outgoing president since Andrew Johnson in 1869 to boycott the Inauguration Day ceremony marking the formal transfer of power, in a final display of pique at his failure to win re-election.
Arriving at Joint Base Andrews, Trump began his remarks by thanking his family, who were in attendance to the side of the stage.
He recognized his children, saying, "People have no idea how hard this family worked. They could have had a much easier life, but they just, they did a fantastic job."
He also recognized his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, before calling up first lady Melania Trump to make brief remarks.
He called the first lady a "woman of great grace and beauty and dignity," saying she was "very popular with the people.
Speaking at the farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, First lady Melania Trump said, "Being your first lady was my greatest honor. Thank you for your love and your support. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all. God bless your families. And God bless this beautiful nation. Thank you," she said.
Following her, Trump began his remarks, saying, "What else has to be said, right?
"This has been an incredible four years. We've accomplished so much together," Trump said. He touted his time in office, highlighting increased military spending, tax cuts and deregulations, among other policy measures, CNN reported.
"You're going to see incredible numbers start coming in. Remember us when you see these things. We've left it all on the field. "The future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular."
Trump also pledged, "We'll be back in some form. "Have a good life, we'll see so you soon," concluded.
Meanwhile, it seems Trump has followed at least one presidential tradition: The White House says the Republican president left behind a note for his successor, Democrat Joe Biden.
Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote to Biden or to characterize the sentiment in the note, citing privacy for communication between presidents.
Guests have been invited, but it is unclear how many will attend. Even Vice President Mike Pence plans to skip the event, citing the logistical challenges of getting from the airbase to the inauguration ceremonies.
Banned from Twitter after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on Jan. 6, Trump used an old-school method - an emailed press release - to distribute a farewell video on Tuesday in which he veered from his usual divisive rhetoric and sounded an upbeat message.
"Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor, and forge our common destiny," he said. But he did not mention Biden, to whom he has not formally conceded.
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