The meeting between outgoing President Biden and President-elect Trump on November 11 marked a return to the tradition after 2020’s break, when Trump had declined to meet Biden. However the meeting lacked the traditional warmth by Gopal Misra
It was only natural for democracy enthusiasts to welcome the much-awaited two-hour meeting between outgoing President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump on November 11. However, the meeting lacked the warmth typically associated with such transitions. While there was considerable media hype surrounding the inauguration of this transition process, it was evident that things would not proceed as smoothly as they had been portrayed.
Trump will be formally sworn in as president on January 20, 2025. While social events in Washington attract global attention, keen observers of political developments in world capitals are understandably apprehensive about the power transition. While the meeting was seen as a return to tradition—after the break from it in 2020, when Trump declined to meet Biden—some political decisions of a “lame-duck” President Biden have raised concerns. Biden’s actions, particularly his decision to provide Ukraine with additional weapons and funds, seem to undermine any peace initiatives Trump had promised to undertake during his campaign.
The transition process resembles a queen delivering a new heir to the throne, with shifting power dynamics emerging within the inner circles. As Biden, the “eighty-year-old emperor,” exits, the U.S. appears to be experiencing medieval political shifts. Although Trump was warmly received at the White House, with First Lady Jill Biden presenting him with a bouquet, the absence of Melania Trump did not go unnoticed. Many observers, familiar with her role as First Lady during Trump’s first term, believe she possesses an uncanny sixth sense. For years, men have been mystified by how women can sense unfaithfulness, and Melania’s absence in this historic moment only adds to that intrigue. During her presence in 2017-2021, she had performed her duties betraying her beauty blended with talent.
Biden’s substantial financial commitments before leaving office have also caught the world’s attention. Recently, it has been noted that his administration, despite offering limited assistance to victims of cyclones in Mexico, is committing large sums to Ukraine. Additionally, the announcement of a $4 billion allocation to the International Development Association (IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank, appears to tie his successor to ongoing financial and strategic commitments. Another notable move is the decision by the IRS and U.S. Treasury to offer new tax credits for clean-energy projects, with credits set to begin on January 19, 2025, just one day before Trump’s inauguration!
