Nancy Pelosi as soon as mentioned Donald Trump could be “fumigated out” of the Oval Workplace if he misplaced the 2020 presidential election. Joe Biden relished describing him as “the previous man” and “loser”. They thought the American nightmare was over.
Then, like within the films, Democrats awoke in a chilly sweat solely to understand it wasn’t a dream in spite of everything. As a substitute they’re doomed to be supporting gamers in a sequel. Trump: The Revenge. This time, it’s private.
On Wednesday, Trump made a triumphant who’s-got-the-last-laugh-now return to Washington, in all probability the least Trumpy place within the nation: Kamala Harris obtained 92.5% of the vote right here in comparison with his 6.7%. One in all his most up-to-date visits was to seem in courtroom as a legal defendant accused of an tried coup.
However hey, who cares about that now? Sporting his purple tie, Trump was again within the sacred house the place Pelosi, Liz Cheney and others swore he mustn’t ever foot once more: the Oval Workplace. The forty fifth and soon-to-be forty seventh president was hosted by Biden, the forty sixth, to debate the presidential transition, a courtesy he by no means prolonged to the person who beat him in 2020.
The pair sat on cream armchairs earlier than a roaring log fireplace – the flames licking excessive and lustily as if to evoke Christopher Marlowe’s line, “Why, that is hell, nor am I out of it.” Behind Biden was the bust of Robert Kennedy, a former Democratic senator whose son, Robert Kennedy Jr, helped ship the White Home to Republican Trump.
“Nicely, Mr President-elect and former president … ,” Biden started, shaking the fitting hand of Trump, whose left hand didn’t fairly know what to do as he breathed: “Thanks very a lot, Joe.”
Biden settled on, “Donald, congratulations” – the primary time he had used his rival’s first title for the reason that tried assassination of Trump in July.
“Thanks very a lot,” Trump repeated.
Biden, palms on knees, continued: “And searching ahead to having a, like we mentioned, easy transition. Do all the things we are able to to ensure you’re accommodated, what you want. And we’re going to get an opportunity to speak about a few of that in the present day. Welcome. Welcome again.”
It was probably the fitting and solely dignified factor to do, exhibiting the world that the America continues to be within the enterprise of a peaceable switch of energy regardless of the stink of January 6 2021. But there may be nonetheless one thing jarring about Democrats, who 10 days in the past have been proclaiming Trump a fascist and an existential risk to American democracy, now treating him like simply one other politician. The normalisation has begun.
Trump, fingers press collectively, rejoined: “Thanks very a lot. And politics is hard. And it’s, many instances, not a really good world, however it’s a good world in the present day. And I recognize it very a lot – a transition that’s so easy it’ll be as easy as it may possibly get. And I very a lot recognize that, Joe.”
Biden replied: “You’re welcome.”
The final assembly of those males, mixed age 159, successfully ended Biden’s political profession. He carried out disastrously on the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, and ended up squabbling with Trump over who has the higher golf swing. It set off a series response that led Biden to drop out and endorse Harris for president.
Trump, for his half, has described Biden as “crooked”, “silly”, a “low-IQ particular person”, “mentally impaired” and the “worst president” in American historical past. There have been occasions when the mutual loathing between them felt actual and visceral. However on Wednesday they managed to maintain it civil. Maybe there was a good odd affinity between them.
Each have proven they are often egotistical, cussed and satisfied they’re proper. Biden lengthy resisted calls to step down because the Democratic nominee and, after Harris’s failure, could now be feeling a sure told-you-so vindication. Trump was denounced by the Kennedy, Bush, Clinton and Obama dynasties and but rose Lazarus-like from the lifeless to win the 2024 nationwide widespread vote.
On Wednesday neither man answered questions shouted by the media. At one level, Biden checked out Trump, who moved his head to the aspect and gave a small shrug however didn’t reply. Their pair then talked in non-public for roughly two hours.
Oh, to be a fly on that wall! Did Biden strive some psychological jujitsu to keep up affect over his successor? Did he brag that he would have overwhelmed Trump once more if solely Pelosi hadn’t meddled? Did they, in a uncommon second of unity, agree that Barack Obama is a know-it-all or JD Vance is simply plain bizarre? Did they comply with settle all of the partisan debates that racked US politics over the previous decade on the golf course?
The assembly was the newest chapter within the unusual historical past of Trump and Washington, a metropolis he spent 4 years residing on somewhat than in. His solely excursions past the White Home have been to a steakhouse at his close by resort, now underneath totally different possession. In the course of the election marketing campaign, he repeatedly referred to as Washington a spot of “filth”, “decay”, “damaged buildings” and “graffiti”. The sensation amongst locals is mutual.
However returning to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Trump was greeted with thunderous applause by Republicans within the Home of Representatives. Speaker Mike Johnson had declared: “He’s the comeback king. We owe him an incredible debt of gratitude.” The president-elect was accompanied not by his spouse, Melania, however by his political muse, Bond villain Elon Musk.
In one among his joking-not-joking asides, Trump informed Republicans: “I think I gained’t be working once more until you say, ‘He’s so good, we obtained to determine one thing else out’.” In some way it lands otherwise coming from a person who counts Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un as political soulmates.
Afterwards Congressman Troy Nehls, who lately backed a proposal to rename a Washington airport after Trump, informed reporters that Republicans should embrace each phrase of his agenda. “If Donald Trump says, ‘Soar three ft excessive and scratch your head,’ all of us bounce three ft excessive and scratch our heads,” he mentioned.
A lot for all of the fables and morality tales that train youngsters to be a superb particular person as a result of liars and cheats by no means prosper. Trump tried to overthrow the US authorities and has been rewarded with unparalleled management of the US authorities. However like Obama earlier than him, Biden intends to deal with his successor with grace and hope just a few embers of his legacy survive the hearth.
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