Transition to Biden meets resistance
WILMINGTON, Del. – Presidentelect Joe Biden fought to confront the nation’s competing crises – and fierce Republican resistance – on Tuesday as concerns grew that President Donald Trump’s refusal to acknowledge his Democratic rival’s victory could undermine national security.
Raising unsupported claims of voter fraud, Trump has blocked Biden from receiving the intelligence briefings traditionally shared with incoming presidents, according to someone with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to disclose private conversations. Trump’s resistance, backed by senior Republicans in Washington and across the country, could also prevent background investigations and security clearances for Biden’s prospective national security team and access to federal agencies to discuss budget and policy issues.
Trump and his allies seemed determined to make Biden’s transition as difficult as possible.
From his Twitter account on Tuesday, Trump again raised unsupported claims of “massive ballot counting abuse” and predicted he would ultimately win the race he has already lost. His allies on Capitol Hill, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell, have encouraged the president’s baseless accusations.
America’s allies began to acknowledge what Trump would not.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Biden via video conference and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also congratulated Biden on his election.
Meanwhile, Biden tried to stay focused on health care as he prepares to take office on Jan. 20 during the worst health crisis in more than a century. The U.S. surpassed 10 million cases on Monday and cases are skyrocketing as the nation moves into the cold winter months.
One of Biden’s chief coronavirus advisers, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, planned to brief Senate Democrats on Tuesday by phone at their weekly virtual lunch, according to a senior Democratic aide granted anonymity to discuss the private session.
The closed-door meeting marks the first time a Biden transition official has addressed the full Senate caucus since last week’s election.
Attorney General William Barr has authorized the Justice Department to probe unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud. And the General Services Administration, led by Emily Murphy, has declined to formally recognize Biden as president-elect.