Trump reunites with supporters in Florida after lackluster departure from White House
Donald and Melania Trump entered Air Force One for the last time to join the billionaire's Florida residence on January 20, 2021. AP - Manuel Balce Ceneta
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
It is in his luxury residence in Mar-a-Lago in Florida that the billionaire began his life as ex-president on Wednesday, far from the spotlight this time on the swearing in of Joe Biden.
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As the inauguration ceremony of his Democratic successor began to be in full swing in Washington, the billionaire arrived by car in Palm Beach, escorted by about thirty vehicles including one carrying the military officer holding the famous suitcase containing the nuclear codes .
Donald Trump arrived in Florida on a final flight in Air Force One aboard his wife, Melania, their son, Barron as well as Donald Trump's children, Ivanka, Donald Jr and Eric.
The outgoing president, who made no comment to reporters during the flight, was greeted by a favorable crowd.
Hundreds of fans lined the road, waving Trump campaign flags or American flags.
The procession slowed down, letting a glimpse of the ex-president smile on his lips and tight point in the face of the messages brandished by his followers: "
Crushing victory of Trump
", could we read that of a woman in tears.
On others: "
Welcome home
" or "
Trump 2024
".
Many supporters of the former president greeted him on his return to Florida.
REUTERS - CARLOS BARRIA
Few guests but a respected protocol
Before flying to Florida, a ceremony was organized in honor of Donald Trump without splinters and in the absence of many guests.
At the Andrews military base in the windswept suburb of Washington, at most 500 people made the trip.
A few hours before Joe Biden arrived at the White House, the Republican nevertheless benefited from all the ceremonial: an Air Force orchestra played
Hail to the Chief
and 21 cannon shots rang out.
"
We have the biggest country in the world,
" the billionaire said in a short statement with the accents of a campaign speech except this time it was to say goodbye.
“
It has been for me the greatest honor and the greatest privilege to be your President,
” he added.
The ceremony was enough to disappoint Donald Trump since even his vice-president, Mike Pence, until then the embodiment of loyalty to the bubbling president, had shunned the event to attend the
inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden
.
With an oath scheduled for noon, every minute was counted for Trump if he wanted to travel to Florida using Air Force One and be entitled to the presidential motorcade to his residence.
With the aim of increasing the number of spectators, the White House had tried to activate its network, multiplying the invitations.
Guests were also reportedly informed that they could invite up to five friends.
At the Andrews military base, a red carpet had been rolled out on the tarmac to the stairs leading to Air Force One: it was a last, icy step for the former President Trump, who still has to do the possibility
of a future impeachment trial
before the US Senate.
(With AFP)
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Donald trump
United States
Joe biden