WH Plans Potential Transition Even As Trump Doubles Down On Possible Refusal To Accept Defeat

on January 30, 2017 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with White House Director of Strategic Initiatives Chris Liddell as he arrives for a meeting with small business leaders in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on January 30, 201... President Donald Trump shakes hands with White House Director of Strategic Initiatives Chris Liddell as he arrives for a meeting with small business leaders in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on January 30, 2017. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The White House’s prep work for a potential transition should Democratic candidate Joe Biden emerge victorious in the November elections is reportedly underway, despite President Donald Trump refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power.

Politico reported on Thursday that Trump aide Chris Liddell has been quietly working on a blueprint with a career official over the past several months and filed two transition reports by their deadlines in May and August. White House attorney Pat Cipollone is also reportedly assisting Liddell.

Additionally, the Department of Justice has reportedly agreed to pre-process security clearances for Biden officials.

White House spokesperson Judd Deere confirmed to TPM that Trump is aware of Liddell’s operations.

In the meantime, Trump has been signaling that he will not accept the results of the elections on November 3 if he loses, citing the false claim that mail-in voting will cause election fraud that would rig the election against him.

“Well, we’re going to have to see what happens,” Trump said on Wednesday when asked if he’d accept a potential defeat. “Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful — there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. The ballots are out of control.”

The President dug his heel in on Thursday, saying the election needs to be “honest” and that he’s “not sure” it can be.

“We have to be very careful with the ballots…the ballots, that’s a whole big scam,” Trump falsely claimed.

This post has been updated to include Deere’s confirmation to TPM.

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Notable Replies

  1. We haven’t even tried any military strikes on Iran yet. Let’s give that a go before we get too far in to this transition crap.
    DJT

  2. A chronic loser worries about losing?

  3. The handlers of the highly dangerous dancing bear want their asses covered. So they can assure their future employers at Fox news and various “think” tanks that they barely knew this trump guy. He got me coffee one time!

  4. Trump doubled-down yesterday on his threat against a peaceful transfer of power should he lose. Today’s response is so predictable because “incoherent” is just how this administration rolls.

  5. Yep, most definitely. They know Donald is going to lose and they’re trying to reposition for employability in the post-Trump world.

    Additionally, the Department of Justice has reportedly agreed to pre-process security clearances for Biden officials.

    And that should be making certain traitrous members of the Shitgibbon Dynasty very very nervous.

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