The dissolution of one of America’s most enduring power transfer rituals – the outgoing president welcoming the new president to the steps of the North Portico and then riding with them to the United States Capitol – is just one of the affronts of the Trumps are perpetrating as they leave Washington.
Instead of a president and a first lady, the Biden will be greeted by the White House chief porter, Timothy Harleth, according to a source familiar with the day’s events and planning. Harleth, a 2017 Trump of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, is unlikely to remain in the Biden administration, the source said, noting that the role of chief porter is likely to be filled by someone more familiar with the new president and first lady.
On the afternoon of the inauguration day, then President Biden will participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, accompanied by former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. It is during these hours that most of the Bidens’ personal effects will be moved to the White House and unpacked, according to another source with knowledge of executive residency practices.
“Moving furniture and vacuuming, cleaning baseboards, vacuuming curtains, cleaning curtains, cleaning chandeliers, window washing, high dust” are areas covered during the traditional move of a new president and his family, according to the source of the residence . “This cleanup will start as soon as Donald Trump and Melania Trump leave.”
A particular focus of this change will be given to the residence’s rooms, where new mattresses and springs for the first family arriving are standard operating procedures, according to the source. However, a part of the room configuration will be noticeably different with the Bidens than it was for the Trumps: the Bidens will be sharing a room. Melania Trump spent most of her time in the White House, in the large room normally reserved for presidents and their spouses, adjacent to West Sitting Hall, according to a source with knowledge of the arrangement.
“Donald Trump slept in his own room, which used to be an office or office during other administrations,” said the source about the deal.
On Monday, moving trucks were spotted on the sidewalks of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, with porters carrying trolleys of boxes and items and taking them to the private club, which will serve as the home of the post-Home Trumps Branca, who is the plan for the time being, said another source with knowledge of the planned living arrangements and security arrangements established at the site.
Snobs Series
The contempt for Biden’s Inauguration Day comes in the wake of a series of broken norms and childish behavior that comes directly from the President of the United States, who has been talking about his disinterest in preserving any appearance of decency towards the man who will succeed him.
Trump, according to several sources, is even considering whether to write a letter to Biden to drop him off at the Oval Office, a standard-bearing tradition.
Melania Trump, who has not been seen in public for more than two weeks, has not contacted Jill Biden, exceeding expectations that she would continue to convey hospitality to her successor by hosting her for a tour.
Even after controversial electoral cycles, the first ladies and presidents put aside resentments and the ego, however wounded they have been, until now.
“I remember the two interactions that then First Lady Hillary Clinton had with Barbara Bush in 1992, when she first arrived at the White House, and in 2000, when she received Laura Bush,” said a former senior government official. Clinton to CNN. “Both were looking for contentious campaigns and both visits could not have been more graceful and welcoming.”
And while the Bidens have a unique perspective because they have visited the White House countless times over Joe Biden’s decades of political career, the Trumps’ lack of politeness hurts.
“It’s horrible,” said another former White House official who worked in the Trump administration.
Some tradition maintains
Small measures of decorum during the transition are being practiced, however. CNN learned of at least three Trump administration officials who used private communication channels to contact their colleagues in the Biden government last month, despite the president not admitting his loss.
Over the weekend, Trump’s official White House photographer, Shealah Craighead, was spotted by CNN taking a tour of the White House photo office for Adam Schultz and Chandler West, Biden’s new official photographer and photo editor, respectively. While photographers mark one end of the spectrum, Vice President Mike Pence signals the other.
On Thursday, Pence spoke with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for the first time, the highest-level contact to date between the outgoing and incoming administrations. The conversation was described as cordial, with Pence congratulating and helping, according to a person familiar with the matter. CNN contacted second lady Karen Pence’s office to see if she had made the same gesture to second gentleman Doug Emhoff and received no response.
On Sunday, the Pences still fulfilled their official obligations, visiting troops at Fort Drum, New York. Karen Pence was thrilled to refer to her last official trip during her comments.
“There I go,” she said, pausing between phrases on a podium inside the hangar, trying to contain herself before more tears rolled down her face. “It is an honor to be here with you.”
On Sunday, invitations were issued to the Trump circle asking them to attend – and bring up to five guests – their farewell party with Melania Trump at Andrews Joint Base, before boarding Air Force One on Wednesday morning for their last trip on the stratified aircraft, which will deposit them in Florida.
Trump told the team he wants his expulsion from the asphalt to include all the pomp and circumstance he feels he deserves, including a 21-shot salute, red carpet and military Color Guard. On Monday afternoon, a government official told CNN that the bells and whistles can all be for a large audience of one – the president – and a small audience of others: “So far, there haven’t been many RSVPs.”
Kate Andersen Brower, Jeff Zeleny and Kevin Liptak of CNN contributed to this report.