The 1 January messages from the president and president-elect were both short, simple and upbeat.
“Happy New Year,” Donald Trump tweeted on Friday morning.
“Here’s to 2021,” Joe Biden had posted as his last tweet of 2020.
That’s about where the similarities ended between the lame duck Republican destined to leave the White House in less than three weeks and the incoming Democrat who will take his place.
A little earlier, in dueling New Year’s Eve declarations, Trump boasted of accomplishments in office, calling them “historic victories” despite his resounding loss in November’s election and a pandemic that has never been under control and is entering its darkest phase with record deaths in parallel with chaotic early vaccine distribution.