New

Trump gets congratulations and a White House invitation as Biden encourages progress on the transition.

Posted on by Goldteelic
image
07
Nov
image

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — On the first day following his election victory, Donald Trump began his transition into office by receiving a series of congratulatory phone calls from global leaders, his defeated opponent, and President Joe Biden. The calls were part of a process that would ultimately allow Trump to begin the delicate task of assembling his new administration.

Despite the flurry of congratulatory messages, Trump remained largely out of the public eye, staying in Florida and refraining from major public appearances. His day began with a call from Vice President Kamala Harris, who conceded the race and expressed her congratulations. Shortly after, President Joe Biden, who had previously been ousted from the White House four years ago by Trump, invited the newly elected president to meet with him in the Oval Office, signaling the beginning of the official transition of power.

“President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and greatly appreciated the call,” said Steven Cheung, the communications director for Trump’s campaign.

Later in the day, Biden’s chief of staff reached out to the Trump team, urging them to finalize the necessary federal agreements required to begin the transition process. However, a source within the Trump campaign revealed that while transition planning had yet to begin in earnest, the president-elect was focused on fielding phone calls from leaders across the globe, major donors, and key supporters. It was expected that full transition talks would commence later in the week, when attention would shift to assembling an inaugural committee and formalizing the transition team.

Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, contacted Trump’s transition co-chairs, Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, to emphasize the critical importance of completing the necessary agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration (GSA). These agreements, which are mandated under the Presidential Transition Act, are essential for initiating the presidential transition. They provide Trump’s team with the necessary resources, including access to federal personnel, documents, and facilities to prepare for the new administration.

The delay in finalizing these agreements has held up critical processes, such as security clearance for national security appointees, which could limit the number of staff members able to access sensitive government information and work on critical matters ahead of the January 20 Inauguration Day. Without these agreements, Trump’s transition team has not yet been able to tap into government resources that are vital to a smooth shift of power. The Presidential Transition Act established deadlines for these agreements, with the GSA agreement due by September 1 and the White House agreement by October 1, ensuring that incoming administrations are prepared and able to govern on the first day of office.

In response to this, Lutnick and McMahon issued a statement late Wednesday, announcing that Trump would be selecting personnel for his administration in the coming “days and weeks.” However, the statement did not specifically address the delay in signing the agreements with Biden’s administration.

“As President Trump selects the best people to join his team and the most effective policies to pursue, his transition team will ensure the successful implementation of his common-sense agenda starting on Day 1,” they said in their statement.

Meanwhile, the White House issued a statement confirming that President Biden had spoken to Trump and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. Biden emphasized the need for cooperation and unity as the country moves forward. Biden also reached out to Kamala Harris, saluting her efforts during the campaign. In a separate call between Trump and Harris, the president-elect acknowledged Harris’s strength and professionalism throughout the election and both leaders agreed on the importance of healing and uniting the nation in the wake of a contentious campaign.

On the international front, Trump received calls of congratulations from a number of foreign leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. These leaders engaged in discussions with Trump on various global issues, with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy focusing on topics such as Middle East peace and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized the critical importance of continued US leadership and expressed his hope for future cooperation with the incoming administration.

Trump’s foreign relations strategy, particularly in the Middle East, will be closely scrutinized as he navigates complex relationships with nations like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Trump’s previous administration was known for strong support of Israel, and the president-elect has signaled that he intends to continue efforts for peace in the region, even as tensions rise between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.

Domestically, the US markets reacted positively to the news of Trump’s election win, with stocks and major companies such as Tesla seeing substantial gains. Investors appeared optimistic that the transition would proceed smoothly and that Trump’s return to the White House would stabilize the political environment.

Additionally, Trump received some legal relief as reports surfaced that special counsel Jack Smith was considering how to wind down two ongoing federal cases against the president-elect. Under longstanding Justice Department policy, sitting presidents are immune from prosecution, and Trump’s victory could lead to the dismissal of charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents. While one case regarding classified documents was dismissed, the Justice Department’s legal opinion suggests that Trump may be shielded from further prosecution during his time in office.

In summary, Trump’s first day as president-elect was marked by a series of important developments, both domestically and internationally. The successful transition of power will depend on the completion of federal agreements, and it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will tackle key domestic and foreign policy issues once in office. The coming days will be crucial for the formation of his new administration, and the international community is closely watching the outcome of the transition process.

Goldteelic

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *