Four years after leaving the White House, Donald Trump has returned to Washington to begin an orderly transition of power.
Following his victory over Kamala Harris, Trump met Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Wednesday morning (Thursday, November 14 AEST). This was a contrast to 2020, when Trump refused to accept the election results.
Sitting by a roaring fire, the two men exchanged a handshake and pleasantries. Biden welcomed Trump, saying, “We will do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated and have what you need. We’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today. So welcome. Welcome back.”
Trump responded, “Politics is tough, and it’s, in many cases, not a nice world. But it is a nice world today, and I appreciate very much a transition that’s so smooth, it’ll be as smooth as you can get.”
Biden, the only Democrat to defeat Trump, must have found the moment surreal. He had often called Trump an existential threat to democracy, while Trump regularly mocked Biden as a frail, demented figure. But today, no insults were exchanged.
Trump’s victory last week was decisive, sweeping all seven battleground states and the popular vote, while helping Republicans regain control of Congress.
However, his allies didn’t get their way in Congress. Republicans voted for South Dakota Senator John Thune as leader, defeating the MAGA-backed candidate, Florida Senator Rick Scott. Thune declared, “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”
Today I met with President-elect Trump in the Oval Office.
— President Biden (@POTUS) November 13, 2024
I look forward to leading a smooth transition and peaceful transfer of power. As I told the President-elect, my team is committed to doing everything we can to ensure the incoming administration has what they need. pic.twitter.com/vDri4HZFE3
Thune vowed to support Trump’s key policies: strengthening border security, removing violent criminals, and restoring American energy dominance. He also pledged to confirm Trump’s nominations swiftly, as Trump builds his cabinet of loyalists for his second term.
Among those allies is Elon Musk, who has become an influential figure in Trump’s orbit. Musk was seated in the front row during Trump’s meeting with House Republicans, though he did not attend the White House meeting with Biden. Also absent was Melania Trump, who declined an invitation from Jill Biden.
Musk, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, will oversee a new commission to “dismantle government bureaucracy” and cut regulations.
Trump made additional key appointments, including Dan Scavino as deputy chief of staff. This could signal trouble for Australia’s ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd, after Scavino reposted a message of congratulations from Rudd to Trump, accompanied by an hourglass gif, suggesting Rudd’s time may be running out.
Trump also appointed Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security, overseeing his signature promise of mass deportations. Florida Senator Marco Rubio was nominated as Secretary of State, reinforcing Trump’s tough stance on China and Iran.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
