US election: Preparations for Trump’s takeover of power are underway

After Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, attention is turning to the transfer of power. US President Joe Biden promised a peaceful handover of office on January 20th. During the election campaign, Trump announced, among other things, that he would quickly deport migrants from the USA on a large scale and quickly end the war in Ukraine. The Republican and his team must now quickly draw up plans on how this should be implemented.

At his first public appearance after the election, the incumbent president assured in the Rose Garden of the White House: “On January 20th there will be a peaceful transfer of power here in America.” At the same time, Biden encouraged his Democratic supporters. “Setbacks are inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable,” he said. “A defeat does not mean we have been defeated.” You have to keep fighting for the America you dream of.

Trump clearly prevailed in the election against Democratic opponent Kamala Harris and for the first time also won a clear majority of the votes cast nationwide: According to US media, the Republican received at least almost 73 million votes based on the count so far. Harris received almost five million fewer votes, around 68 million.

Biden: “Election system is honest, fair and transparent”

After his defeat by Biden four years ago, Trump refused to recognize the result. He tried unsuccessfully to challenge it in the courts and also stayed away from Biden’s inauguration. As the election winner, Trump accepted an invitation from Biden for a conversation in the White House.

Biden also used his speech to emphasize the reliability of the democratic process in the USA. “I hope that we can finally put to rest the question of the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair and it is transparent, and it can be trusted – win or lose,” said the Democrat.

During the election campaign, Trump repeatedly sowed doubts that the vote would be carried out correctly and accused the Democrats of trying to cheat. There was a fear that if he lost, he would not accept the result again.

Front line in Ukraine could be frozen

Trump’s plans with regard to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine are of particular interest to Europe. The newly elected president always left it open how he wanted to end the war. But according to the Wall Street Journal, there are initial suggestions in his environment. One of the ideas is that Ukraine should promise not to join NATO for at least 20 years. In return, the USA would continue to supply the country with weapons. The plan also includes a demilitarized zone along the front, it said, citing informed people.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin appeared open to Russian President Vladimir Putin having a phone call with Trump. But this had to be initiated by the US side, it was said.

Plans for deportations

According to initial plans, Trump’s team wants to initially concentrate on deporting undocumented migrants from the USA who are suspected of criminal offenses, as the news channel CNN reported. An open question is how to deal with immigrants who came to the USA as children and have now built a life in the country.

It was said that Trump’s government wanted to rely on private companies to set up deportation centers where people would stay until they left the USA. If Trump’s plans become reality, Congress would first have to approve the necessary funds. The 78-year-old and his allies in Congress want to push through much of the government’s sometimes radical program as quickly as possible.

Cases against Trump are probably going nowhere

The judiciary is also unlikely to get in Trump’s way from now on: Special investigator Jack Smith is examining the termination of two ongoing proceedings against Trump under federal law, several US media outlets reported unanimously.

Trump’s lawyers also wanted to request that the announcement of the sentence in Trump’s New York trial, which was scheduled for November 26th, be canceled. The president-elect has already been convicted in the trial of concealing hush money payments to a porn actress.

Exploratory talks for Trump’s new government team are said to have already begun behind the scenes. Various names of strident Trump allies are circulating who could take on important positions – including the tech billionaire Elon Musk, the controversial ex-ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, and the vaccination opponent and temporary presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Republican Senator Marco Rubio is said to be in discussion as the new Secretary of State, while Trump’s loyal former chief diplomat Mike Pompeo is in talks for the important defense portfolio.

Senate majority for Trump’s Republicans

The Republicans were also able to take the majority in the US Senate from the Democrats in Tuesday’s vote. They already hold 52 of the 100 seats – and there could be a few more.

In the other chamber of parliament, the House of Representatives, it was initially unclear whether the Republicans would be able to defend their majority there. The counting could take several more days. If they succeed, Trump would be in an even more powerful position because he could then rule virtually unhindered.

The results of the presidential election still have to be counted and certified in the states down to the last vote. The official result must be known by December 11th. On December 17th, the electors in the states will meet to vote. The newly elected Congress meets for the first time on January 3rd.

On January 6th, the House of Representatives and Senate will meet together to formally confirm the election results. The incumbent Vice President, Harris, will chair this meeting. After the 2020 election, Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol during this meeting.

The transfer of power will finally take place on January 20th: the new president will be sworn in in a solemn ceremony at the Capitol. The new government then begins its work immediately.