Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as President again in January, following his electoral victory. The transition from President Biden involves electors meeting on December 17 to cast votes, with the official count occurring on January 6. Trump’s transition team, led by Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, faces the challenge of staffing around 4,000 government positions. Key figures in the new administration will include family members and allies, with significant appointments already made ahead of the inauguration.
What’s Next After Trump’s Election Victory?
In January, Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated once again as the President of the United States. As the nation anticipates this significant event, many are curious about the transitional phase from President Biden to Trump. This guide provides an overview of the upcoming process and key personnel involved in Team Trump.
The electoral decision has been made: Donald Trump has emerged victorious. The next crucial step involves the 538 electors, who represent each state in the Electoral College based on population. On December 17, these electors will convene in their respective state capitals, casting their votes for both President and Vice President.
After this gathering, the sealed ballots will be dispatched to Washington, D.C., where they will be officially counted during a joint session of Congress on January 6, 2025. This session will be overseen by the current Vice President, Kamala Harris, who will announce Trump’s victory after the electoral votes are tallied. It’s noteworthy that due to a legal clarification following the 2020 election, the Vice President’s role is now primarily ceremonial. During the previous transition, Trump pressured his then-Vice President Mike Pence not to certify Biden’s win, leading to a chaotic Capitol breach by his supporters.
The Transition Process from Biden to Trump
The Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 mandates that the transition process must commence five days post-election. Biden has extended an invitation to Trump to meet at the White House for discussions regarding the handover of governmental duties. According to Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, this meeting is expected to occur soon.
During this transitional period, Team Trump faces the task of filling approximately 4,000 government positions, ranging from cabinet members to various committee staff roles. Out of these, about 1,200 appointments will require Senate confirmation, where Trump’s Republican Party holds a majority.
Typically, the incoming president receives daily briefings on intelligence matters. For instance, in 2008, outgoing President George W. Bush personally updated Barack Obama on sensitive covert operations in the U.S. To prepare for a second term, conservatives have initiated Project 2025.
Key Advisors in Trump’s Transition Team
The Transition Team is officially headed by Howard Lutnick, the chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, along with former wrestling executive Linda McMahon. However, it is anticipated that Trump’s closest allies and family members will play a pivotal role in shaping the new administration. This includes figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as Vice President J.D. Vance.
During his previous term, Trump was known for appointing family members to prominent positions within the White House, including his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner as advisors. Recently, Trump has made a significant personnel decision, appointing his campaign manager, Susan Wiles, as the White House Chief of Staff. Wiles is a seasoned Republican strategist from Florida, who has been credited with much of the success of this election campaign.
Additionally, Trump has indicated plans to assign vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a role in health policy and has proposed that tech mogul Elon Musk lead an initiative to review U.S. state expenditures.
As the nation awaits the new president’s inauguration, which is traditionally held on January 20, the excitement builds for the ceremony at the Capitol, where Trump will take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address.