With his pride bruised, Nancy Pelosi claiming he could be an “accessory to murder” and aides and supporters deserting him in their droves, he was desperate to find the adoration he once commanded.
His post-presidential options will be defined by the fallout over his incendiary US Capitol speech on January 6 that spurred his supporters to riot, killing five and led to his historic second impeachment.
On the eve of the inauguration, House of Congress speaker Pelosi took aim at Trump. She said: “[The] President’s words are important, they weigh a ton. And if you’re Donald Trump talking to these people, they believe it and they used his words...
“This president is an accessory to that crime because he instigated that insurrection that caused those deaths.”
Still Trump bid farewell to his chaotic four years in the Oval Office with a speech in front of a couple of hundred loyalists as if he was still speaking to the masses.
The one-term president delivered a self-congratulatory address boasting of his achievements and touted his return.
His pitiful departure included a 21-gun salute, red carpet and the playing of Hail to the Chief.
With American flags blowing in the wind as his backdrop, Trump praised his administration’s efforts while blaming America’s pandemic deaths on “the China virus”.
“This has been an incredible four years,” he said as his sons Donald Jr and Eric looked on with sisters Ivanka and Tiffany.
He went on: “I just want to say goodbye, but hopefully it’s not a long-term goodbye. We’ll see each other again.
“I want to thank all the great people of Washington DC, all of the people that we worked with to put this miracle together. So, have a good life. We will see you soon. Thank you.”
No longer welcome in his native New York, Trump flew to his Florida mansion MaraLago where today he will wake up in silk sheets surrounded by his gaudy gold-adorned bedroom.
Gone will be the White House Rose Garden from his window, in its place his £12,000-a-year private members club’s croquet lawn.
He has returned to his Versailles, a 118-room paradise where his ego will be served as the private staff on the 18-acre estate refer to him simply as “King”.
He has defiantly spoken of running for office again, however if convicted at the upcoming Senate trial, Trump will certainly be barred.
His woes do not end there as he also faces legal cases over his company’s tax affairs, business dealings and from women who have accused him of sexual assault which he denies.
And whereas he once was courted by TV bosses and book publishers, he is now a pariah among some of America’s biggest businesses.
He has been barred from social media and cut him off from financial services.
The toxic effect on his real estate, hotel and golf resort empire could be devastating.
His brands are haemorrhaging money as he himself has guaranteed some £220million in loans – money his company currently does not have.
