Trump's lonely exit

[brooklynite]

CNN

(CNN)In one last divisive spectacle before exiting the Oval Office, President Donald J. Trump became the first chief executive in modern US history to forgo the tradition of attending his successor's inauguration. Instead, Trump opted for a departure ceremony that left the self-styled larger-than-life business tycoon-turned-president appearing small and as alone as ever.

With the pomp and circumstance granted to a foreign leader visiting the nation's capital, the taxpayer-funded ceremony treated Trump to a military band playing "Hail to the Chief" as deafening sounds from a 21-gun salute echoed across Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington, DC. The manufactured nature of the festivities, ginned up to rival President Joe Biden's inauguration, seemed more fitting for an ousted autocrat heading into exile.

...snip...

Obsessed with crowd sizes, Trump had hoped for a grand departure ceremony prior to this final presidential flight, teeming with throngs of adoring fans in MAGA hats, to cap off his last morning in power. The event allowed for invitees to bring up to five guests in an effort to produce a large turnout. But the small gathering of approximately 200 people in attendance on the frigid tarmac paled in comparison to Trump's caustic campaign rallies, lending a cold and melancholy mood to the setting.

A few familiar Trump loyalists stood out in the crowd, including his final White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and speechwriter Stephen Miller. The 45th President's adult children applauded dutifully, including Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. Miller gave a teary-eyed Ivanka a hug.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Good riddance to exceptionally bad rubbish! n/t

[jcgoldie]

2. LOSER

More than anything else and not just because he got less votes.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

3. You left out the best part

Captures the moment perfectly

Not since the resignation of Richard Nixon has a president left office under such disgraceful circumstances. Yet, due to his own actions, Trump may sink to the bottom of the list of presidents maintained by historians who measure the legacies of former commanders in chief.
"Donald Trump is the worst president America has ever had," presidential historian Tim Naftali wrote in The Atlantic this week.

[FakeNoose]

4. Stephen Miller was there?

I wonder what rock he crawled out from under. Seriously he hasn't been seen since the insurrection at the Capitol, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone handed him a warrant while he's out in public. I thought he must have left town already.

[underpants]

5. Acosta takes a couple victory laps and punches down in Trump

Good read.

[dclarston13]

6. Someone needs to interview him today

The crazy will be dialed up to 11 and hopefully some folks on the right will finally see him for who he is.

[rurallib]

7. doesn't the departing president usually have a little 'party' of sorts

with the WH staff, to thank them?

I read nothing about Trump doing anything for the staff. Did I miss it or was he just being his usual asshole self?

[FakeNoose]

8. He already threw a party in Mike Pence's honor

... on January 6th. It may not have made the papers though. Kind of a busy day.

[rurallib]

9. !