Staff Reports
The clock is ticking for President-elect Donald Trump, who faces a frenetic 75-day transition period leading up to Inauguration Day on January 20. With a focus on assembling his team, Trump must fill approximately 4,000 government positions with loyal political appointees. From the high-profile Cabinet positions like secretary of state to various boards and commissions, this monumental task awaits him. Thankfully, with Republicans poised to maintain at least a two-seat majority in the Senate, the confirmation of about 1,200 of these appointments is expected to be a smooth ride, perhaps even deserving a victory lap.
Security protocols for presidential nominees are typically ramped up compared to those for former presidents, and Trump knows this all too well. While he already enjoys a Secret Service detail due to his past presidency, things are about to get serious. After a wild rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot at due to an assortment of Secret Service missteps, the stakes are higher than ever. Upon taking office, Trump will regain full presidential security, and one can almost hear the Secret Service agents sweating at the thought of keeping up.
Donald Trump is officially next President of United States of America 🇺🇸
Huge credits to Elon for selling Tesla stock, paid huge capital gain taxes and bought Twitter to counter censorship and mainstream media. pic.twitter.com/ypf534veI7
— Dhananjay Kadam (@dsk4u) November 6, 2024
Anyone who follows the political scene knows that Trump doesn’t follow tradition for tradition’s sake. Before his first inauguration in 2017, instead of sticking around the president’s guest house, the Blair House, Trump opted for the more glamorous Trump Tower. In fact, he spent less time at Blair House than any other president since Gerald Ford, reducing his stay to just one night. Melania, meanwhile, made it clear that she would be less than enthusiastic about moving back into the White House. With minimal appearances during the campaign, some have begun to question whether she might prefer to just let Trump run the show on his own.
As for the aesthetics of Air Force One, Trump is eyeing a makeover that would make it as bold and brassy as he is. He’s long expressed disdain for the traditional light blue design, favoring a bold red stripe down the middle and a dark blue underbelly that would pay homage to his own private jet. Biden’s recent order of two new planes sporting the classic look adds a layer of uncertainty to Trump’s colorful dream, but one can bet he’s preparing to throw a fit if he can’t fly in style.
In the meantime, Trump will start attending national security and intelligence briefings, a welcomed shift from his first campaign when he opted out to avoid any potential leak accusations. With the electoral vote process in full swing, these briefings will arm him with the crucial information he needs to navigate his presidency. The transition may be challenging, but if anyone can navigate it with flair, it’s Donald J. Trump—America’s favorite political juggernaut.
