Trump, White House prepares for transition between administrations

On November 7, 2024By Littum

From the White House to Mar-a-Lago, leaders are sharing a message of unity after the presidential election as the focus now shifts to transitioning to another Trump administration.

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both spoke with President-elect Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his victory.

Biden invited Trump to the White House. Trump “looks forward to the meeting, which will take place soon, and greatly appreciated the invitation,” said Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung.

Harris and Trump agreed on “a desire to ensure a smooth and effective transitional government in the coming weeks and months,” according to a Trump campaign adviser.

“President Trump recognized Vice President Harris for her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of uniting the country,” Cheung said.

“It is time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us. It’s time to unite and we’re going to try, we’re going to try,” Trump said during his victory speech at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Tuesday, just a few miles from Mar-a-Lago, where he spent the evening watching the results. with friends and family.

The victory, described by his running mate Sen. JD Vance as a “political comeback,” marks the end of nearly two years of campaigning for Trump but the start of an administration that may now face fewer obstacles with the support of congressional Republicans who have coalesced around his agenda and a Supreme Court with a conservative majority.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump said, describing a plan as “promises kept promises” in another administration. On the campaign trail, Trump has indicated priorities in tougher border policies, including mass deportations, an effort to lower prices through energy production and less regulation, and an economic policy that would cut taxes while raising tariffs and vowed to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

“Once we actually start enforcing the sanctions and stifling Putin’s war machine, that will be the leverage to bring him to the table to end the war instead of perpetuate the war,” said Congressman Mike Waltz.

The adviser points to the support of the Hispanic and African-American communities, especially among men, turnout in rural and urban areas in the construction of a broad coalition, “The President, because of the mandate he received from such a wide and diverse group, is very excited to lead a unifying movement.”

In the run-up to a second term, the Trump-Vance transition team, chaired by Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, has been “very active” and worked for weeks “in a way that didn’t broadcast every move and every moment,” according to a campaign adviser, which indicated that announcements would be made in the coming days. Trump’s sons, Senator Vance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard are also part of the transition teams.

“In the coming days and weeks, President Trump will select personnel to serve our nation under his leadership and enact policies that make Americans’ lives affordable, safe and secure,” McMahon and Lutnick said in a statement. “We are proud to volunteer our time to introduce President Trump to a wide range of experts for him to select for his team.”

“They will provide the president with the best and the brightest from all parts of America so that the president can pick a cabinet that is ready on day one to enact his agenda,” the adviser said. “And they will also work with political stakeholders to ensure that things like potential executive orders and legislative policies are there that meet the president’s goals so that he can make day one the beginning of the most successful four years in American history.”

Trump has previously indicated he would look to Elon Musk to lead a government efficiency commission tasked with reforming and overhauling the government. He has previously said that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be able to work on health issues including women’s health.

Kennedy wants to oversee the “restoration of regulatory agencies,” according to his former campaign communications director, Del Bigtree, adding that he thinks “it will look like a commission.”

“What is going to happen is that you will now know the side effects that arise from vaccines. You will be given the opportunity to choose for yourself if that is what you want to do. The choice will be given back to the public, and it is. No vaccines will be deleted. What will be given to you is honest, transparent, informed consent returns to the vaccine program,” Bigtree said.

The transition between administrations is a government-regulated process, with the White House and the General Services Administration playing key roles.

The transition team has not entered into agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration at this time to help guide the transition process, according to a White House official. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients contacted McMahon and Lutnick on Wednesday to clarify the transition to an orderly transition and reiterate the role of the agreements, according to another official. The GSA also said it notified Trump’s transition team of his eligibility for post-election services and said it was prepared to work with his team to complete the deal. Trump’s team has been in conversation with the transition coordinator.

“I just think the whole country needs to come together and come to the realization that he’s the one, he has everybody’s best interests at heart and he’s going to do, he’s going to do what’s best to help to bring the country together and help,” supporter April Owen said after her election night vigil.

“…He’s been there before, so he doesn’t need to have a learning year. He learned from his mistakes. He knows what is right. He has the people to help him pick the right cabinet members this time,” said supporter Jill Woolbright.