WASHINGTON — On Wednesday morning as president, the fireplace crackles in the Oval Office Joe Biden shook hands Donald Trump and congratulated him on his election victory.
“Welcome back,” Biden told Trump, who said the transition would be “as smooth as possible.”
It was a cordial exchange at odds with the strangeness of the political moment. Here was Biden, who once made it his mission to prevent his predecessor from becoming his successor, prepare to transfer power to Trump, who never conceded his defeat to Biden four years ago.
But official Washington, still feeling the aftershocks of Trump’s chaotic first term, seemed resigned to the potential earthquake of his second term. There were no protests on the streets and no surprises during the nearly four-hour visit of the previous and future president.
It was a very different scene from when Trump visited the city after his shocking victory over Hillary Clinton eight years ago. At the time, the country was still trying to figure out the real estate mogul and former reality TV star, and Trump seemed somewhat nervous. his Oval Office meeting with outgoing President Barack Obama.
Now Trump is unmistakably triumphant and confident in his return. He cemented his place in American politics by overcoming two impeachments, a criminal conviction and two assassination attempts, winning a second term in the White House.
The victory lap began as soon as Trump landed in his signature red-white-and-dark blue plane with his name on the side.
“It’s nice to win,” Trump told House Republicans during his first rally of the day.
He also hinted that he may not want to leave once his term is over.
“I guess I won’t run again unless you say, ‘He’s so good we have to think of something else,’” Trump said.
The lawmakers laughed. Was it really a joke? Or a suggestion that Trump views the constitutional ban on serving more than two terms as malleable?
There was no way to know for sure, an uncertainty reminiscent of the tone of Trump’s original stay in Washington. Whatever the case, it seemed unlikely that Trump would encounter much resistance from a Republican Party reshaped in his image and likely to wield power. all branches of the federal government.
“If Donald Trump says, ‘Jump three feet high and scratch your head,’ we’ll all jump three feet high and scratch our heads,” said Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas. He wore a “Make America Great Again” tie and gold Trump sneakers.
As if to demonstrate his dominance, Trump announced a string of loyalists to top positions in government, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence. Concerns about their lack of qualifications could make it difficult for them to win Senate confirmation — but only if Senate Republicans decide to thwart Trump by opposing them.
The meeting with House Republicans took place in a hotel conference room blocks from the U.S. Capitol, where Trump had urged his supporters to continue marching. January 6, 2021as Congress ceremoniously confirmed Biden’s election victory. Sparked by Trump’s false claims of voter fraud, rioters smashed windows, fought with police officers and tried to prevent the transition of power.
That failed, but in subsequent years Trump convinced Americans to put aside concerns about his attempt to stay in power and trust him to tackle their problems. economic malaise and concerns about migration.
He won a decisive victory over it Kamala Harristhe Democratic vice president who replaced Biden at the top of the ticket After a disastrous debate, concerns about his age arose over the summer.
When Trump finished on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, his motorcade took him to the White House for the meeting with Biden. Several dozen Trump supporters stood outside the gate before he arrived, with one holding a sign that read “Welcome Back.”
Dozens of journalists crowded the grounds hoping to catch a glimpse of Trump — so many that the Secret Service had run out of temporary passes given to visiting reporters.
Harris kept his distance. A person familiar with her schedule said she held private meetings at her official residence.
Trump’s campaign said his visit to Washington was “a harbinger of the dramatic change that will take place in just a few weeks.”
An X-factor for Trump’s second presidency is Elon Musk, the richest man in the world who is often at the president-elect’s side. He owns the social media company formerly known as Twitter, as well as an electric vehicle manufacturer and a space rocket company with billions of dollars in government contracts. Trump said this week that Musk would help lead an advisory committee for government efficiency.
Musk joined Trump for his meeting with Republicans in the House of Representatives, adding his own star power.
“He got three standing ovations,” said Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina.
It’s not just the federal government that is waking up to the reality of Trump’s return. So are city leaders.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday that she is committed to “a smooth and collaborative transition” and that she wants to work with the new administration to get federal workers back to their offices to rejuvenate downtown.
She also appeared to be bracing herself for future confrontations.
“We’re not in a new place,” Bowser said. “We’ve been here before”
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Associated Press reporters Farnoush Amiri, Josh Boak, Kevin Freking, Ashraf Khalil, Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville and Will Weissert contributed to this report.