Donald Trump has overturned all standards of the American presidency. He will also probably shake up the standards of the transition.
Donald Trump’s electoral defeat will not be the last act of this extraordinary presidency. All kinds of things can happen between now and January 20.
His predecessors have always favored the peaceful transfer of power, but Donald Trump leaves room for doubt.
Yesterday, we celebrated the announced victory of Joe Biden, but, contrary to tradition, the loser did not concede. He probably won’t concede until all possible remedies are exhausted.
It won’t change much. Biden’s winning margins in recount-prone states far exceed expected variations from judicial recounts.
Donald Trump will persist anyway and will continue to fight “electoral fraud” that only he perceives, like Don Quixote and his giants.
We can also forget the courtesies that an outgoing president usually grants to his successor to facilitate the transition. Fortunately, Joe Biden knows Washington like the back of his hand, and he would likely not care enough for advice from Donald Trump.
Last lap
Donald Trump will not come out without a bang. Among other things, he will not hesitate to use his power of forgiveness to get his political allies out of trouble and, why not, he could even self-support or resign on January 19 so that Mike Pence can do it for him.
On the last day, he will put a final touch to his bad loser number by slipping away to avoid the swearing-in of Biden. All these escapades will no doubt appeal to die-hard Trumpists, but it is less certain that they will help Republicans to survive in post-Trump Washington.
Trump has not said his last word. The circus continues.
