NAnthy Pelosi once said that if Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, the Oval Office would be “fumigated.” Joe Biden delighted in describing him as an “ex-boyfriend” and a “loser.” They thought the American nightmare was over.
Then, just like in the movie, the Democrats woke up in a cold sweat and realized it wasn’t a dream after all. Instead, they are destined to be supporting players in the sequel. Trump: Revenge. This time it’s a personal story.
On Wednesday, President Trump made a triumphant return to Washington as the man who laughs last. It’s probably the least Trump-filled place in the nation. He received 6.7% of the vote here, compared to 92.5% for Kamala Harris. One of his recent visits was to appear in court as a criminal defendant accused of a coup attempt.
But hey, who cares about that now? Wearing a red tie, Trump returned to the hallowed space that Pelosi, Liz Cheney and others vowed never to set foot in: the Oval Office. Biden, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president, hosted the 46th Biden to discuss the presidential transition, but Biden spoke out against the man who defeated him in 2020. He never showed that courtesy.
They were sitting in cream-colored armchairs in front of a roaring fireplace. The flames burned high and bright, as if to remind me of Christopher Marlowe’s line, “Why, this is hell, and I can’t get out of it either.” Behind Biden is a bust of former Democratic Sen. Robert Kennedy, whose son Robert Kennedy Jr. helped hand the White House to Republican Trump.
“So, President-elect and former President…” Biden began, shaking Trump’s right hand and gasping, not knowing what to do with his left, “Thank you, Joe.”
Biden settled for saying, “Congratulations, Donald.” This is the first time he has used his rival’s first name since the assassination attempt on President Trump in July.
President Trump reiterated, “Thank you very much.”
Biden continued, hands on his knees. “And, like we said, we look forward to a smooth transition of government. We’ll do everything we can to make sure our customers have what they need. I have an opportunity today to talk about some of that. Right. Welcome back.
It was undoubtedly the right thing to do, and the only dignified thing to do, to show the world that despite the stink of January 6, 2021, the United States is still in the business of a peaceful transfer of power. But there are still things that make Democrats uncomfortable 10 days ago. They declared Trump a fascist and an existential threat to American democracy, and now they treat him like a mere politician. Normalization has begun.
Trump clasped his fingers together and spoke again. “Thank you very much. And politics is tough. It’s not a very good world in many cases, but it’s a good world today. I’m very grateful for a very smooth transition. It couldn’t be smoother. And it’s a very good world. Thank you, Joe.”
“You’re welcome,” Biden responded.
The final meeting of these men, who had a combined age of 159 years, effectively ended Biden’s political career. He had a dismal performance in the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, and ended up arguing with President Trump over who had a better golf swing. That set off a chain reaction that led to Biden resigning and endorsing Harris for president.
President Trump described Biden as “crooked,” “stupid,” “a person with a low IQ,” “mentally ill,” and “the worst president” in American history. There were times when the mutual dislike between them felt real and visceral. But on Wednesday, they managed to remain moderate. Perhaps there was a strange affinity between them.
They both show that they can be selfish, stubborn, and think they are right. Biden has long resisted calls to step down as the Democratic nominee, but after Harris’ failure, he may now feel vindicated. Despite being criticized by the Kennedy, Bush, Clinton, and Obama dynasties, Trump rose from the dead like Lazarus to win the national popular vote in 2024.
On Wednesday, neither man answered questions shouted by the media. At one point, Mr. Biden looked at Mr. Trump, who moved his head to the side and gave a small shrug but did not respond. The two then spoke privately for about two hours.
Oh, how I could fly into that wall! Has Biden tried psychological jiu-jitsu to maintain influence over his successor? Did he boast that he would have defeated Trump again if Pelosi hadn’t intervened? In a rare moment of unity, did they agree that Barack Obama was a know-it-all, or that J.D. Vance was just a weirdo? Have they agreed to settle all the partisan disputes that have plagued American politics for the past decade on the golf course?
The meeting was the latest chapter in President Trump’s strange history with Washington, rather than the city where he lived for four years. The president’s only trips beyond the White House were to a steakhouse at a nearby hotel, now under different ownership. During the campaign, he repeatedly called Washington a place of “filth,” “corruption,” “broken buildings,” and “graffiti.” The feelings of local residents are mutual.
But when Trump returned to the Capitol on Wednesday, he was greeted with thunderous applause from House Republicans. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson declared: “He’s the Comeback King, and we have a huge debt of gratitude to him.” The president-elect will be accompanied not by his wife Melania but by his political muse, Bond villain Elon Musk. was.
In a not-so-joking aside, Trump told Republicans: “I don’t think I’ll ever run again unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we have to think about something else.'” spoke. A man who considers Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un to be political soulmates.
Rep. Troy Neals, who recently supported a proposal to rename Washington airports after President Trump, told reporters afterward that Republicans must embrace every word of Trump’s policies. “If Donald Trump said, ‘Jump 3 feet high and scratch your head,’ we would all jump 3 feet high and scratch our heads,” he said.
So much for all the fables and moral stories that teach children to be good people, because liars and cheaters never prosper. Trump attempted to overthrow the U.S. government and in return gained unparalleled control of the U.S. government. But like Mr. Obama before him, Mr. Biden will treat his successor respectfully and hope that some embers of his legacy survive the fire.
