Yahoo Finance Melania Trump gives her final farewell as first lady: 'My greatest honor'
After departing the White House with President Donald Trump Wednesday morning, Melania Trump spoke at Joint Base Andrews on her last morning as first lady.
After Trump said a few words, describing his wife as a "woman of great grace and beauty and dignity" and "so popular with the people," the outgoing first lady gave a brief farewell before he took up the mic again.
"Being your first lady was my greatest honor. Thank you for your love and support," she said. "You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all, God bless your families and God bless this beautiful nation."
The Trumps addressed a small gathering of supporters, which included Trump's children Ivanka and her family as well as Tiffany and her new fiancé, Michael Boulos.
Upon arrival and departure, the base also boomed with music that Trump often used at his campaign rallies, including "YMCA" and "Don't Stop Believin'."
Melania Trump was dressed in all-black, including gloves and large sunglasses. She also carried what appeared to be a black crocodile Hermès Birkin bag.
The Trumps are expected to spend their final moments as president and first lady at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, according to published reports.
In his final tweet before Twitter silenced him Jan. 8, Trump said he would not attend Biden's inauguration — breaking a tradition among exiting presidents dating back to 1877.
Earlier this week, the first lady shared a video message reflecting on her four "unforgettable" years in the White House.
The nearly seven-minute message, which came two days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, began with the first lady expressing her gratitude for military service members, law enforcement and caregivers – all of whom have inspired her since she entered the White House in 2017.
"The past four years have been unforgettable. As Donald and I conclude our time in the White House, I think of all the people I have taken home in my heart and their incredible stories of love, patriotism and determination," she said in the video message.
The first lady then transitioned to talk at large about the pandemic and its impact on the nation, thanking essential workers such as health care professionals and truck drivers for their roles in saving lives. She briefly called on Americans to practice "caution and common sense" to protect high risk, vulnerable individuals as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be distributed.
Contributing: Amanda Hernández; Palm Beach Post Staff
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melania Trump departs White House, says being first lady was 'honor'
