The Mail on Sunday

Biden orders ‘exorcism’ of Trump from White House

- From Caroline Graham IN LOS ANGELES

JOE BIDEN has ordered the White House to be deep- cleaned and ‘exorcised’ of any trace of outgoing President Donald Trump.

President- elect Biden is set to move into the 55,000sq ft mansion after his January 21 inaugurati­on but is insisting that the 132-room property be thoroughly disinfecte­d beforehand.

White House historian Kate Andersen Brower said: ‘There is a five-hour window between presidents. That’s when 95 staff will have to pack up all the Trump possession­s and move the Bidens in. They will clean or replace everything.’

A team in hazmat suits will spray the entire residence with disinfecta­nt after Trump leaves and remove carpets, curtains and furniture.

‘The incoming President and First Lady get to choose their new furniture from a secret warehouse,’ Ms Andersen Brower told CNN.

A member of the transition team added: ‘Mr Trump’s administra­tion has been riddled with the coronaviru­s. The Bidens are taking no chances. The entire property with be deep-cleaned down to replacing doorknobs and taking down soft furnishing­s. The virus can linger on hard surfaces so the entire residence and executive offices will be wiped clean with disinfecta­nt to exorcise any trace of Team Trump.’

Mr Trump continued to rail against his election loss last night as his final legal challenge was dismissed by the US Supreme Court.

The President angrily rounded on Attorney General Bill Barr, calling him a ‘big disappoint­ment’ for failing to reveal Biden’s 50-year-old son Hunter is under investigat­ion for alleged tax evasion, tweeting: ‘Why didn’t Bill Barr reveal the truth to the public before the election, about Hunter Biden. Joe was lying on the debate stage that nothing was wrong or going on. Big disadvanta­ge for the Republican­s at the polls!’ Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing.

Insiders say he will refuse to attend Mr Biden’s inaugurati­on.’

Mr Biden will order all Americans to wear masks during his first 100 days in office in a bid to bring the pandemic under control.

So far nearly 300,000 Americans have died. On Friday, the Food and Drug Administra­tion approved Pfizer Covid vaccine for use, with frontline workers getting the first doses tomorrow.

 ??  ?? NO LONGER WELCOME: President Trump speaking at the White House
NO LONGER WELCOME: President Trump speaking at the White House

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