Trump Wants A “Major Send-Off” On Inauguration Day And Better Not Hear The Name “Nixon”

Photo via Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

January 15, 2021, 12:27 pm

Donald Trump has reportedly asked that a “major send-off,” preferably “military-style,” be planned for him on January 20, better known by Democrats dragging themselves to the finish line as Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day.

Advertisement
Hide

A report by CNN says that Trump has been “consumed by the unraveling of his presidency” during the last several days as he’s had to watch the nation turn against him following the failed attempted coup he incited.

Advertisement
Hide

It has been well established that Trump’s favorite parts of the job have been the rallies, the photo ops, and anything else that brings him the adoring attention and endless praise of his fans. Instead of that, he’s been stuck at the White House watching people prepare for the day people will be celebrating the man who solidly defeated him in the 2020 election.

Trump now plans to leave the WH on inauguration morning and has told people he wants a big send-off. He’s shut down discussion of resigning and told aides he never wants to hear anyone mention the name Richard Nixon to him. W @kaitlancollins https://t.co/MRdNCKaYC4

— Kevin Liptak (@Kevinliptakcnn) January 15, 2021

“Inside the building, Trump has been weathering a second impeachment and growing isolation from his onetime allies in sullen desolation.”

“He has grown more and more worried about what legal or financial calamities may await him when he is no longer president, people who have spoken to him said, fueled by warnings from lawyers and advisers.”

Advertisement
Hide

CNN also reports that Mike Pence is carrying out the various duties traditionally reserved for the outgoing president and that Trump is “disinterested” in giving or record a farewell address. He may also decline to leave the traditional letter for his successor at the resolute desk.

It’s also important to note that Trump apparently hates being compared to Richard Nixon, who was almost impeached but decided to save face by resigning—to the point that he has banned the man’s name from the White House.

To be fair the comparisons aren’t quite accurate:

1) Nixon was never actually impeached; Trump was impeached twice
2) Nixon was re-elected
3) Nixon’s mood swings were at least partly because he was drinking

I’m sorry I meant to be fair to Nixon https://t.co/T0QCLvmmyh

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 15, 2021

He reportedly “shut the idea down almost immediately” when someone floated resignation as an option and made it clear that the “mere mention of President Richard Nixon” was not allowed around him.

Advertisement
Hide

The president also reportedly said that he “couldn’t count on Vice President Mike Pence to pardon him like Gerald Ford did Nixon, anyway.” So definitely make sure not to make that comparison online. It might upset him.

The current plan is for Trump to leave the White House on the morning of the 20th, moving it back from the initial plan of leaving on the 19th, but will still refuse to make any contact with the incoming presidential family. Traditionally, the outgoing president and first spouse welcome the newcomers, but, you know.

Advertisement
Hide

Trump would reportedly like to be sent off by a crowd of his supporters as he makes his way back to Mar-a-Lago, but due to intense security in the area because of the whole attempted coup thing, this may not be an option.

Share this article

*First Published: January 15, 2021, 12:27 pm