The transition to the Donald Trump presidency is being prepared: the Republican will be received Wednesday in the Oval Office by Joe Biden, who promised a transfer of power “peaceful”and begins to express his views on the composition of his future administration.
Two days after the clear victory of the Republican against Kamala Harris, the American president committed to ensuring a transfer of power to his worst political enemy in a calm manner, thus hoping “lower the temperature” in a country on edge.
Badly beaten after a bitter campaign, the Democratic vice-president also assured to count ” help “ Donald Trump in this period.
The meeting at 4:00 p.m. GMT on Wednesday in the Oval Office will be the first step in this transition, before the start of his mandate on January 20.
A situation very different from 2020, when Donald Trump refused to recognize his defeat and boycotted Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony. And this after his supporters stormed the Capitol, temple of American democracy, to prevent the certification of the Democrat’s victory, on January 6, 2021.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Milkwaukee on July 18, 2024 / ANGELA WEISS / AFP
Four years later, the real estate mogul, who was the target of two assassination attempts during the campaign and was indicted and convicted in criminal and civil cases, will make an incredible return to the White House.
His first mandate was marked by a waltz of ministers and advisors who successively fell into disgrace. The question now is what the Trump 2 government will look like.
He made his first major appointment on Thursday: Susie Wiles, architect of his campaign, will be his chief of staff, an ultra-strategic position which had never been occupied by a woman.
The rest should be announced in the coming weeks. RFK Jr., nephew of the assassinated president and former independent candidate aligned with Donald Trump, could be entrusted with responsibilities in public health.
Joe Biden at the White House on November 7, 2024 / SAUL LOEB / AFP
Another key figure is expected to be billionaire Elon Musk, who campaigned very actively for Donald Trump. The president-elect could charge the richest man in the world with profoundly reorganizing the federal administration.
The Republican, on the other hand, indicated on his Truth Social network on Saturday that he would not recall his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, expected to lead the Pentagon, nor the United States ambassador to the UN under his mandate Nikki Haley , who became his rival during the Republican primaries, to be part of his government.
“Mass expulsions”
Opponents of Donald Trump demonstrate in New York on November 9, 2024 / Leonardo Munoz / AFP
Passing the keys of the White House to the Republican will be an immense humiliation for outgoing President Joe Biden, accused by his camp of having, out of pride, facilitated this resounding return.
After weeks of campaign without progress, the latter withdrew from the race in July weighed down by his age, 81, in favor of his vice-president.
Democratic tenor Nancy Pelosi told the New York Times on Saturday that “if the president had left (the race) earlier, there might have been other candidates”adding that Joe Biden’s immediate support for Kamala Harris had prevented a primary from taking place.
The former speaker of the American House of Representatives, however, praised “the craze” sparked by Kamala Harris during her campaign.
The vice president who described her opponent as a “fascist” failed to convince Americans that she understood their economic and security concerns.
Voters’ top concern, according to exit polls, was the economy and inflation, which had soared under Mr. Biden’s post-Covid pandemic tenure.
Democratic tenor Nancy Pelosi in Washington on October 16, 2024 / Send to NGAN / AFP
Donald Trump promised Americans to make their lives better through tax cuts and customs duties. The Republican also said he would carry out evictions “massive” of irregular migrants.
He will be able to rely on the Senate, which the Republicans took back from the Democrats, and possibly on the House of Representatives, where his party is on track to retain the majority.
The vote count is not complete in Arizona but for the rest Donald Trump won the other six « Swing States ». And he is almost guaranteed to win the popular vote against Kamala Harris.
He will then be the first Republican president in 20 years to achieve this feat, proving wrong the pollsters who predicted the opposite.
