Trump news: Romney attacks former president as children get secret service protection
Follow the latest updates as four-year term ends with flurry of pardons
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Senator Romney is calling for reform after Donald Trump gave clemency to 143 people before leaving office.
Donald Trump arrived in Palm Beach, Florida, on Air Force One shortly to resume civilian life at Mar-a-Lago after departing the White House for the final time on Wednesday morning.
"It was a privelege to be your president," he told the small his farewell event at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One with wife Melania for the last time.
Before his term came to an official end, Trump slipped in a last-minute pardon for the husband of Fox News ally, Judge Jeanine Pirro and extended Secret Service protection for his kids, Ivanka, Don Jr and Eric and their families.
- What would a new ‘Patriot Party’ run by Trump mean for US politics?
- Can Trump run again in 2024 election?
- Ivanka praises her own work in farewell message as bitter Don Jr compares Biden to The Lion King’s Uncle Scar
- Barron Trump misses out on family’s farewell to White House
- Trump’s pardons: The list, from Steve Bannon to Lil Wayne
The 15 best Trump cartoons from the Trump presidency
The Independent’s cartoonist Dave Brown found an ideal subject in the vulgarity and bullying excesses of the 45th president.
Here’s 15 of his finest sketches on the theme.
The 15 best Trump cartoons from his presidency
Over the past four years Independent cartoonist Dave Brown has had a lot of fun with Donald Trump and his excesses. From Twitter storms and Stormy Daniels to racism and Russia, we present his top 15
Republican election deniers including Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley arrive for Biden inauguration
Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama have all taken their seats with their wives for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s big day in DC.
Joining them are several of the Trumpist GOP senators who cheered on the Capitol rioters and continued to insist on their opposition to Biden’s election win even after the siege had taken place, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley and Jim Jordan among their craven number.
Chris Riotta has the latest.
Prominent election deniers arrive for Biden’s inaugural ceremonies
Texas senator and other lawmakers like Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan in attendance at President-elect Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremonies
Trump touches down in Florida after Mar-a-Lago fly-by
The president and his family are about to step out of Air Force One for the final time, returning to life as private citizens.
One final pardon
Oh look, Fox News host Judge Jeannine Piro’s husband got clemency at the very last minute.
Biden sworn in as 46th president of United States
The presidency of Donald J Trump is dead. Long live the presidency of Joseph R Biden.
Biden sworn in as 46th president of United States
Democrat takes office amid unprecedented public health crisis and era of intense political division
The Trump Review: Donald Trump’s unprecedented presidency, from inauguration to insurrection
For a farewell look at the truly extraordinary last four years, might I humbly suggest you check out my 21-part Independent Premium series The Trump Review?
You can find links to all 21 articles in the summary below.
Donald Trump’s unprecedented presidency, from inauguration to insurrection
In our 21-part series, Joe Sommerlad charts an extraordinary four years in American politics, from the 45th president’s surprise election win to his chaotic reign ending in infamy with a second impeachment
What would a new ‘Patriot Party’ run by Trump mean for US politics?
For Indy Premium, Sean O’Grady considers the future for post-Trump America.
What would a new ‘Patriot Party’ run by Trump mean for US politics?
Trump has repeatedly insisted that he will be “back in some form” and is rumoured to be considering starting his own political party. Sean O’Grady looks back at how previous threats to America’s two-horse race have fared
Trump slips in last-minute pardon for Fox News ally
In one his final acts in the white house, ex-president Trump pardoned the husband of Fox news host Judge Jeanine Pirro
Albert Pirro, was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion in 2000, according to The Daily Beast, which confirmed the last-minute pardon.
“I’m in shock. I went to bed last night having read the list assuming I wasn’t getting a pardon,” Pirro told The Daily Beast. “It certainly is a nice act on the part of the president. It has been 20 years since I served my time and it allows me to engage again in public companies which I haven’t been able to do previously.”
BREAKING: China sanctions former Trump administration leadership
Donald Trump was barely out the door when China issued sanctions on his top leadership, including Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, Steve Bannon and Robert O’Brien, among others.
The report comes via White House correspondent Nicholas Wadhams, who says the sanctions prevent them traveling to, or doing business, with China.
It comes after former secretary of state Pompeo officially recognised that China was committing genocide against Uighur Muslims.
Final press pool report under the Trump White House
For the history books, here is the final report from the press pool in Mar-a-Lago covering the final moments of the White House of Donald Trump. By some “mystical powers”, the Potus pool magically re-appeared in Washington DC at midday:
“Pool is holding outside Mar-a-Lago. By some mystical powers the POTUS pool will dissolve in Palm Beach at midday to be replaced by POTUS pool in DC. For IT reasons, I am handing over to in-town Biden pool now, so that the messages can all be passed on OK. But the pool will monitor things here until midday just in case. It just remains for me to thank my fellow poolers on this historic day, for keeping things on the straight and narrow. And in particular to thank wrangler extraordinaire Margo Martin who kept us all in the right places and on time during her final day with the White House.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments