Farewell Addresses: Donald Trump (2021)
Donald Trump's farewell address and his final official speech as the 45th President of the United States, was delivered as a recorded online video message. It was recorded and released on January 19, 2021, the day before Joe Biden, who defeated him in the 2020 United States presidential election, was sworn in as his successor.
Dubbed by some as a "farewell- for now" address, President Trump's message came on the heels of his repeated claims that widespread electoral fraud had occurred in the election and that he had actually won the election. Many resulting lawsuits had been either dismissed or ruled against by numerous courts. The 117th United States Congress first convened on January 3, 2021, and was scheduled to count and certify the Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021. At that time, Congress was composed of 222 Democrats and 212 Republicans in the House, and 51 Republicans, 46 Democrats and 2 independents in the Senate. Several Republican members of the House and Senate said they would raise objections to the reported count in several states. As Vice-President Pence was due to preside over the January 6, 2021, congressional session to count the electoral votes, normally a non-controversial and ceremonial event, Pence had earlier been asked by President Trump to take action to overturn the election. Pence refused to do so, arguing that the law does not give him that power.
In December, President Trump had called on his supporters to stage a massive protest in Washington, D.C. on January 6 to express their displeasure over certification of the electoral vote. On Twitter, he wrote: "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!" This raised concerns among D.C. police and the National Guard was alerted, believing that the rally may turn violent.
On January 6, President Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol, interrupting the count of the votes and prompting an evacuation of those in the building. The unruly mob entered the House and Senate chambers and vandalized offices. Five people died as a result of the events in the Capitol. One person was shot by police, one Capitol Police officer died from his injuries after physically struggling with rioters, one person died of a heart attack, another of a stroke, and the final person's death is still under investigation.
President Trump was accused of inciting the violence with his rhetoric, leading to an article of impeachment which was filed on January 13 charging him with "incitement of insurrection".
Congress reconvened that evening, after the Capitol was cleared of trespassers. The Senate resumed its session at around 8:00 p.m. on January 6 to conclude debate on the objection to the Arizona electors. Objections to the Pennsylvania electors were also debated. The joint session completed its work shortly before 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7, and Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election.
On January 19th, President Trump delivered his recorded address in the Blue Room of the White House. In the speech he emphasized the highlights of his term in office. He indirectly wished President-elect Biden well, stating that the success and security of the country depended on his success as leader. But he also warned Biden not to change or reverse some of the Trump policies.
He began the speech by stating:
"My fellow Americans, four years ago we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again for all Americans. As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came here to do, and so much more. This week we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck, a very important word."
President Trump went on to thank the members of his immediate family as well as his son-in-law Jared Kushner, telling his family, "you fill my world with light and with joy." He also thanked Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and the entire Pence family, as well as his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, members of the White House staff, the cabinet, as well as the Secret Service, the White House military office, "the teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the armed forces, and state and local law enforcement all across our country." He added: "Most of all, I want to thank the American people. To serve as your president has been an honor beyond description", adding, "We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation."
He addressed the Capitol riots, stating that "all Americans were horrified" by them. He went to say:
"Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated. Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor and forge our common destiny"
President Trump reminisced about the start of his presidency, noting his status as a Washington outsider and stating that he had run for the office because "America had given me so much and I wanted to give something back." He referred to his trademark phrase, stating that "we all wanted to make America great again." He went on to list the accomplishments of his administration, which he described as passing "the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history", eliminating "more job-killing regulations than any administration had ever done before". He added:
"We fixed our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal. And we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA, that’s Mexico and Canada, a deal that’s worked out very, very well. Also and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China, made a great new deal with China. But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus."
Addressing the negative effects of the pandemic, he said "Billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the US but the virus forced us to go in a different direction." He claimed that "America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built." He went on to assert that his administration had "built the greatest economy in the history of the world". He elaborated on this economic success:
"We reignited America’s job creation and achieved record-low unemployment for African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women, almost everyone. Income soared, wages boomed. The American dream was restored and millions were lifted from poverty in just a few short years. It was a miracle. The stock market set one record after another, with 148 stock market highs during the short period of time, and boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens all across our nation. 401ks are at a level they’ve never been at before. We’ve never seen numbers like we’ve seen, and that’s before the pandemic and after the pandemic. We rebuilt the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase Made in the USA."
He declared that his administration had met the medical challenges of the pandemic admirably, before returning to its connection with the economy, stating:
"When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed and more will quickly follow. They said it couldn’t be done, but we did it. They called it a medical miracle. And that’s what they’re calling it right now, a medical miracle. Another administration would have taken three, four, five, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine. We did it in nine months. We grieve for every life lost and we pledge in their memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all. When the virus took its brutal toll on the world’s economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our country has ever seen. We passed nearly $4 trillion in economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and slashed the unemployment rate in half. These are numbers that our country has never seen before. We created choice and transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many ways, but especially in our effort to get favored nations clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription drug prices anywhere in the world."
President Trump highlighted other successes of his administration including his criminal justice reform, his appointment of three new justices of the United States Supreme Court as well as nearly 300 federal judges, and his efforts to secure the nation’s borders. He claimed to have "achieved the most secure border in US history" and to "have given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever done before".
President Trump claimed that "the world respects us again" and that this had been achieved by "withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests" and by making NATO countries pay "hundreds of billions of dollars more than" at the start of his presidency. He also praised his administration's increase in military spending, and its creation of "the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces in 75 years, the Space Force." He also expressed pride over standing up to Iran and to China "like never before" as well as the obiteration of "the ISIS caliphate" and ending "the wretched life of its founder and leader al-Baghdadi" as well as "the world’s top terrorist, Iranian butcher, Qassem Soleimani". He also reminded his audience that his administration had recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He said "The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home. I am especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars."
President Trump then highlighted what he called "the sacred idea that in America the government answers to the people", calling this "our guiding light, our North star, our unwavering conviction has been that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of America." He went on to state:
"As president my top priority, my constant concern has always been the best interests of American workers and American families. I did not seek the easiest course. By far, it was actually the most difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because that’s what you elected me to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus. This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy. Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country. We restored self-government. We restored the idea that in America no one is forgotten because everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We fought for the principle that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal by God. Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect, to have their voice heard, and to have the government listen. You are loyal to your country and my administration was always loyal to you. We worked to build a country in which every citizen could find a great job and support their wonderful families. We fought for the communities where every American could be safe and schools where every child could learn. We promoted a culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored, our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never taken for granted. Americans should take tremendous satisfaction in all that we have achieved together."
He concluded by addressing what he called "the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all share." These he listed as "a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness", adding, "A nation is only as strong as its spirit." He urged his audience to "never lose this conviction" and to "never forsake our belief in America." He went on to address attacks on freedom of speech and of expression:
"At the center of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression, free speech, and open debate. Only if we forget who we are and how we got here could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America. It’s not even thinkable. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions. In America, we don’t insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes. We just don’t do that. America is not a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. That’s not who we are. It will never be who we are. For nearly 250 years in the face of every challenge, Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage, confidence, and fierce independence. These are the miraculous traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great West. It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into space."
He added that he did not believe that the crowds which met him at his events came "to show their support of me" but rather "to show me their support and love for our country." Citing a number of locations he had been to during his Presidency, he said, "I fought for you. I fought for your family. I fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for, and that is safe, strong, proud, and free." He ended by saying:
"As long as the American people hold in their hearts, deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation can not achieve. Our communities will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions will be cherished. Our faith will be strong and our future will be brighter than ever before. I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come. Thank you and farewell. God bless you. God bless the United States of America."
Here's a video recording of the address:
Dubbed by some as a "farewell- for now" address, President Trump's message came on the heels of his repeated claims that widespread electoral fraud had occurred in the election and that he had actually won the election. Many resulting lawsuits had been either dismissed or ruled against by numerous courts. The 117th United States Congress first convened on January 3, 2021, and was scheduled to count and certify the Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021. At that time, Congress was composed of 222 Democrats and 212 Republicans in the House, and 51 Republicans, 46 Democrats and 2 independents in the Senate. Several Republican members of the House and Senate said they would raise objections to the reported count in several states. As Vice-President Pence was due to preside over the January 6, 2021, congressional session to count the electoral votes, normally a non-controversial and ceremonial event, Pence had earlier been asked by President Trump to take action to overturn the election. Pence refused to do so, arguing that the law does not give him that power.
In December, President Trump had called on his supporters to stage a massive protest in Washington, D.C. on January 6 to express their displeasure over certification of the electoral vote. On Twitter, he wrote: "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!" This raised concerns among D.C. police and the National Guard was alerted, believing that the rally may turn violent.
On January 6, President Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol, interrupting the count of the votes and prompting an evacuation of those in the building. The unruly mob entered the House and Senate chambers and vandalized offices. Five people died as a result of the events in the Capitol. One person was shot by police, one Capitol Police officer died from his injuries after physically struggling with rioters, one person died of a heart attack, another of a stroke, and the final person's death is still under investigation.
President Trump was accused of inciting the violence with his rhetoric, leading to an article of impeachment which was filed on January 13 charging him with "incitement of insurrection".
Congress reconvened that evening, after the Capitol was cleared of trespassers. The Senate resumed its session at around 8:00 p.m. on January 6 to conclude debate on the objection to the Arizona electors. Objections to the Pennsylvania electors were also debated. The joint session completed its work shortly before 4:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7, and Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election.
On January 19th, President Trump delivered his recorded address in the Blue Room of the White House. In the speech he emphasized the highlights of his term in office. He indirectly wished President-elect Biden well, stating that the success and security of the country depended on his success as leader. But he also warned Biden not to change or reverse some of the Trump policies.
He began the speech by stating:
"My fellow Americans, four years ago we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again for all Americans. As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came here to do, and so much more. This week we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck, a very important word."
President Trump went on to thank the members of his immediate family as well as his son-in-law Jared Kushner, telling his family, "you fill my world with light and with joy." He also thanked Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and the entire Pence family, as well as his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, members of the White House staff, the cabinet, as well as the Secret Service, the White House military office, "the teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the armed forces, and state and local law enforcement all across our country." He added: "Most of all, I want to thank the American people. To serve as your president has been an honor beyond description", adding, "We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation."
He addressed the Capitol riots, stating that "all Americans were horrified" by them. He went to say:
"Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated. Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor and forge our common destiny"
President Trump reminisced about the start of his presidency, noting his status as a Washington outsider and stating that he had run for the office because "America had given me so much and I wanted to give something back." He referred to his trademark phrase, stating that "we all wanted to make America great again." He went on to list the accomplishments of his administration, which he described as passing "the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history", eliminating "more job-killing regulations than any administration had ever done before". He added:
"We fixed our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal. And we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA, that’s Mexico and Canada, a deal that’s worked out very, very well. Also and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China, made a great new deal with China. But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus."
Addressing the negative effects of the pandemic, he said "Billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the US but the virus forced us to go in a different direction." He claimed that "America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built." He went on to assert that his administration had "built the greatest economy in the history of the world". He elaborated on this economic success:
"We reignited America’s job creation and achieved record-low unemployment for African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women, almost everyone. Income soared, wages boomed. The American dream was restored and millions were lifted from poverty in just a few short years. It was a miracle. The stock market set one record after another, with 148 stock market highs during the short period of time, and boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens all across our nation. 401ks are at a level they’ve never been at before. We’ve never seen numbers like we’ve seen, and that’s before the pandemic and after the pandemic. We rebuilt the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase Made in the USA."
He declared that his administration had met the medical challenges of the pandemic admirably, before returning to its connection with the economy, stating:
"When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed and more will quickly follow. They said it couldn’t be done, but we did it. They called it a medical miracle. And that’s what they’re calling it right now, a medical miracle. Another administration would have taken three, four, five, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine. We did it in nine months. We grieve for every life lost and we pledge in their memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all. When the virus took its brutal toll on the world’s economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our country has ever seen. We passed nearly $4 trillion in economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and slashed the unemployment rate in half. These are numbers that our country has never seen before. We created choice and transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many ways, but especially in our effort to get favored nations clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription drug prices anywhere in the world."
President Trump highlighted other successes of his administration including his criminal justice reform, his appointment of three new justices of the United States Supreme Court as well as nearly 300 federal judges, and his efforts to secure the nation’s borders. He claimed to have "achieved the most secure border in US history" and to "have given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever done before".
President Trump claimed that "the world respects us again" and that this had been achieved by "withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests" and by making NATO countries pay "hundreds of billions of dollars more than" at the start of his presidency. He also praised his administration's increase in military spending, and its creation of "the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces in 75 years, the Space Force." He also expressed pride over standing up to Iran and to China "like never before" as well as the obiteration of "the ISIS caliphate" and ending "the wretched life of its founder and leader al-Baghdadi" as well as "the world’s top terrorist, Iranian butcher, Qassem Soleimani". He also reminded his audience that his administration had recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He said "The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home. I am especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars."
President Trump then highlighted what he called "the sacred idea that in America the government answers to the people", calling this "our guiding light, our North star, our unwavering conviction has been that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of America." He went on to state:
"As president my top priority, my constant concern has always been the best interests of American workers and American families. I did not seek the easiest course. By far, it was actually the most difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because that’s what you elected me to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus. This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy. Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country. We restored self-government. We restored the idea that in America no one is forgotten because everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We fought for the principle that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal by God. Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect, to have their voice heard, and to have the government listen. You are loyal to your country and my administration was always loyal to you. We worked to build a country in which every citizen could find a great job and support their wonderful families. We fought for the communities where every American could be safe and schools where every child could learn. We promoted a culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored, our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never taken for granted. Americans should take tremendous satisfaction in all that we have achieved together."
He concluded by addressing what he called "the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all share." These he listed as "a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness", adding, "A nation is only as strong as its spirit." He urged his audience to "never lose this conviction" and to "never forsake our belief in America." He went on to address attacks on freedom of speech and of expression:
"At the center of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression, free speech, and open debate. Only if we forget who we are and how we got here could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America. It’s not even thinkable. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions. In America, we don’t insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes. We just don’t do that. America is not a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. That’s not who we are. It will never be who we are. For nearly 250 years in the face of every challenge, Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage, confidence, and fierce independence. These are the miraculous traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great West. It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into space."
He added that he did not believe that the crowds which met him at his events came "to show their support of me" but rather "to show me their support and love for our country." Citing a number of locations he had been to during his Presidency, he said, "I fought for you. I fought for your family. I fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for, and that is safe, strong, proud, and free." He ended by saying:
"As long as the American people hold in their hearts, deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation can not achieve. Our communities will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions will be cherished. Our faith will be strong and our future will be brighter than ever before. I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come. Thank you and farewell. God bless you. God bless the United States of America."
Here's a video recording of the address: