Trump and the White House are preparing for the transition between administrations

From the White House to Mar-a-Lago, leaders are spreading a message of unity after the presidential election as the focus now shifts to the transition to a second Trump administration.

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both spoke to President-elect Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his victory.

Biden invited Trump to the White House. Trump “looks forward to the meeting that will take place shortly and appreciated the call,” said Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump campaign.

According to a Trump campaign adviser, Harris and Trump agreed on “the desire to ensure a smooth and effective transition of power in the coming weeks and months.”

“President Trump recognized Vice President Harris for her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of uniting the country,” Cheung said.

“It is time to put the divisions of the last four years behind us. “It's time to unite and we're going to try, we're going to try,” Trump said during his victory speech Tuesday at the Palm Beach Convention Center, just a few miles from Mar-a-Lago, where he spent the evening spent watching the results with friends and family.

The victory, which his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, called a “political comeback,” marks the end of a nearly two-year campaign for Trump but also the beginning of an administration that could face fewer obstacles now with the support of congressional Republicans united about his agenda and a Supreme Court with a conservative majority.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump said, describing a plan as a “promise made, promise kept” in a second administration. On the campaign trail, Trump has hinted at priorities for tougher border policies, including mass deportations, trying to lower prices through energy production and less regulation, and economic policies that would cut taxes while raising tariffs, and promising to end the wars in Ukraine and the United States End the Gaza Strip.

“Once we actually start enforcing the sanctions and choking off Putin's war machine, that will be the leverage to bring him to the table to end the war rather than continue the war,” said Congressman Mike Waltz.

The adviser points to the support of the Hispanic and African American communities, especially men, as well as participation in rural and urban areas in building a broad coalition: “The president is because of the mandate he received from such a broad and diverse group I am excited to lead a unifying movement.”

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With the backdrop of a second term in office, the Trump-Vance transition team, co-chaired by Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, was “very active” and worked for weeks “in a way that did not broadcast every move and every moment.” said a campaign adviser, pointing to announcements in the coming days. Trump's sons, Senator Vance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, are also on the transition team.

“In the coming days and weeks, President Trump will select personnel to serve our nation under his leadership and enact policies that make life affordable, safe and secure for Americans,” McMahon and Lutnick said in a statement. “We are proud to volunteer our time to introduce President Trump to a broad range of experts from which to select for his team.”

“They will provide the president with the best and brightest from every area of ​​America so that the president can select a Cabinet that is ready to implement his agenda on day one,” the adviser said. “And they will also work with policy stakeholders to ensure that things like potential executive orders and legislative directives are in place that meet the president's goals so that he can make Day One the start of the most successful four years in American history.”

Trump had previously indicated that he would expect Elon Musk to lead a government efficiency commission tasked with reforming and auditing the government. He previously said that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was capable of working on health issues, including women's health.

Kennedy wants to oversee the “renewal of regulators,” according to his former campaign's communications director, Del Bigtree, adding that he believes “it will look a lot like a commission.”

“What will happen is that now you know the side effects that occur from vaccines. You have the opportunity to decide for yourself whether you want this. The election is returned to the public, and that's all. No vaccines will be deleted. What you are offered is honesty, transparency and informed consent returning to the vaccination program,” Bigtree said.

The transition between administrations is a federally regulated process, with the White House and the General Services Administration playing key roles.

At this time, the transition team has not reached agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration that could guide the transition process, according to a White House official. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients reached out to McMahon and Lutnick on Wednesday to clarify the move for an orderly transition and reiterate the role of the agreements, according to another official. The GSA also said it had informed Trump's transition team of his eligibility for post-election services and said it stood ready to work with his team to finalize the agreement. Trump's team spoke to the transition coordinator.

“I just really believe that the whole country needs to unite and come to the realization that he has everyone's best interests at heart and he's going to do what's best to bring the country together and help,” Supporter said April Owen following her election night party.

“…He’s been there before, so he doesn’t have to have a year of learning. He learned from his mistakes. He knows what is right. This time he has people to help him pick the right Cabinet members,” said supporter Jill Woolbright.