US President Donald Trump has released a farewell video, publicizing what he described as the success of his “America First” platform and telling his supporters that “the movement we started is only just beginning”.
President Trump, who has said he will not attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden extended his “best wishes” to the incoming administration.
“And we also want them to have luck. A very important word.
“Now, as we prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning.”
The outgoing President described himself as “the only true outsider ever to win the presidency” and said he would pray for the success of the new administration in keeping America safe and prosperous, but he did not mention Joe Biden by name.
“Our agenda was not about right or left, it wasn’t about Republican or Democrat, but about the good of a nation, and that means the whole nation.”
In the speech, President Trump also condemned the violence on Capitol Hill, saying “all Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol”.
“Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated.”
The President has been accused of inciting his supporters in a rally shortly before the Capitol breach. In a video message amid the chaos, he told supporters to go home, while saying “We love you” and again repeating his allegation that the election had been “stolen”.
Last week, the US House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for “incitement to insurrection” in relation to the riot.
Shortly before the release of Mr Trump’s farewell message, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the rioters were “fed lies” and “provoked by the president and other powerful people.”
The outgoing President will face a trial in the Senate on the article of impeachment, which will require a two-thirds majority for conviction in the chamber.
A guilty vote could also lead to President Trump being barred from holding future federal office. As a single-term president, he is currently eligible to run again in 2024 and is expected to be an influential force leading up to that race.
In the farewell video, President Trump also thanked his family, his cabinet and Vice President Mike Pence.
Speaking about the pandemic, he attacked the “China virus”, saying before COVID “billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the US, but the virus forced us to go in a different direction.”
And on global peace agreements he said; “As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East. It is the dawn of a new Middle East and we are bringing our soldiers home.”
He also said he was “especially proud” to be the first President in decades who has “started no new wars.”
President Trump is set to leave Washington DC before the inauguration and has been planning a grand farewell event at nearby Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Once there, he will board Air Force One for a final time, flying to his home in Florida.
