In the final hours, Trump pardoned Steve Bannon, perhaps his only real act of forgiveness and magnanimity.

The still-president and still–First Lady were ferried at 8 a.m. by helicopter on January 20 from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base—the helicopter pulling up beside Air Force One (the big Air Force One, not the little one). The music was “Don’t Stop Believin’” (“A singer in a smoky room / The smell of wine and cheap perfume / For a smile they can share the night / It goes on and on, and on, and on…”). The music switched to “Hail to the Chief” as soon as the president and the First Lady came down the chopper stairs, walking maskless past the masked guard and Secret Service agents. Indeed, all the attendants were in masks—the guests and family were not.

Four cannons fired a final salute.

The gathering was in the hold area. The president mounted a riser.

It was far from a Trump-size crowd—perhaps the smallest of his presidency—a Biden-size crowd, a wag remarked. Still, they were making an effort. His family. Mark Meadows and his wife. You could feel the effort. No vice president and Mrs. Pence, who were scheduled to attend the new president’s inauguration.

I want to thank you for your effort, your hard work. People have no idea how hard this family worked. They worked. And they worked for you. They could have had a much easier life, but they just did a fantastic job, I just want to thank all of you, everyone. I want to thank Mark Meadows, who’s here someplace right there. I want to thank Mark. But it’s been something very special. We’ve accomplished a lot. Our First Lady has been a woman of great grace and beauty and dignity. And so popular with the people. So popular with the people. In fact, honey, would you like to say a few words?

[Melania speaking] Being your First Lady was my greatest honor. Thank you for your love and your support. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all, God bless your families, and God bless this beautiful nation.

What else has to be said, right? But what we’ve done … That’s true, honey. Great job. What we’ve done has been amazing by any standard.

And then the rote recitation of accomplishments—three Supreme Court justices, creation of the Space Force (a new military command he seemed particularly proud of), a great economy, the vaccine—and a heap of blame on the “China virus” and a recapitulation of electoral math and then a casual or enigmatic sign-off.

So just a good-bye. We love you. We will be back in some form.… So have a good life. We will see you soon.