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WASHINGTON (AP) – As President Donald Trump’s term draws to a close, his unconventional approach to office lingers on the usually carefully choreographed transfer of power. Here are six questions for his last six days in office.
WILL HE TALK WITH BIDEN?
Trump has announced that he will be the first incumbent in more than a century to avoid the swearing-in of his successor, but he could still take steps to avoid giving his successor a cold shoulder. Trump did not make a dealership phone call or invite Biden to the White House after his victory. In fact, he hasn’t spoken to Biden since their controversial final debate in October. But last week, the White House invited Biden to spend the night of January 19 at Blair House.
Officials don’t expect Trump to invite Biden to the White House for the traditional pre-inauguration tea on Wednesday, but they said it was still a distant possibility. They also wondered what Trump would write – if any – to his successor in the usual note left in the Oval Office for the next occupant.
WHEN WILL HE LEAVE THE CITY?
The swearing-in ceremony traditionally ends with the ex-president leaving the Capitol lands and a flight on one of the planes that serve as Air Force One to anywhere in the country. As Trump skips the event, White House officials say Trump has yet to decide how and when he will leave the White House for his residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Options under consideration include leaving Washington on Tuesday, when Biden is due to arrive in the capital, or even the morning of the inauguration, potentially minutes before Biden is sworn in.
Is there more forgiveness?
At the end of December, the president pardoned a host of former aides and associates, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump is considering a final round of pardons and mercies that could be even closer to home. As Trump continues to face legal challenges, the possibility of him attempting to forgive himself, other family members, or senior officials remains the subject of internal White House discussions.
Will he try to burn his legacy?
Presidents, before leaving office, usually hold a series of events to celebrate their accomplishments, as they seek to make their case for the history books. With the exception of a trip on Tuesday to see the US-Mexico border wall, Trump has avoided opportunities to try and make a final sales pitch for his administration’s actions. Aides says Trump is not currently planning to give a farewell speech or answer reporters’ questions one last time, nor does he have any confirmed public events on his schedule.
HOW WILL HE HANDLE POTENTIAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE AROUND THE INAUGURATION?
The FBI warned of the potential for armed protests in all 50 states and Washington ahead of the inauguration. After being impeached a second time Wednesday for instigating the insurgency on Capitol Hill last week, Trump has decided to disown the acts of violence by his supporters. With law enforcement and the National Guard on high alert in Washington and across the country, messages from Trump in his final hours of office will be under scrutiny for any hint of encouraging protests.
WHAT WILL HE DO SOON?
Trump has yet to sketch out his post-presidential plans, from setting up an office to selecting a site for a potential presidential library. Trump has opened the door to the White House bid again in 2024, but the Senate could shut it down as early as next week, when he begins Trump’s second impeachment trial. If found guilty, Trump could be barred by the Senate from running for federal office again – and even stripped of his pension.
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