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The President-Elect’s Wild Ride With the Press Donald Trump’s Wild Ride With the Press
(about 1 hour later)
All eyes might be on Trump Tower as the presidential transition team nears nominations for crucial cabinet posts, but President-elect Donald J. Trump appears fixated on beating the press.All eyes might be on Trump Tower as the presidential transition team nears nominations for crucial cabinet posts, but President-elect Donald J. Trump appears fixated on beating the press.
Mr. Trump has always had an unconventional relationship with the media. Why would he let being elected president of the United States change that? Mr. Trump has always had an unconventional relationship with the news media. Why would he let being elected president of the United States change that?
By tradition — and ostensibly to satisfy the public’s right to know its leader’s doings — a president-elect has a small pool of reporters monitoring his whereabouts, mainly in case of emergencies. You never know. But at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, about 45 minutes after a Trump spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said that the president-elect was calling it a night, reporters noticed what was described as “a massive motorcade” leaving Trump Tower with at least a dozen vehicles and an ambulance, lights blaring.By tradition — and ostensibly to satisfy the public’s right to know its leader’s doings — a president-elect has a small pool of reporters monitoring his whereabouts, mainly in case of emergencies. You never know. But at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, about 45 minutes after a Trump spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said that the president-elect was calling it a night, reporters noticed what was described as “a massive motorcade” leaving Trump Tower with at least a dozen vehicles and an ambulance, lights blaring.
At 7:36 p.m., a Twitter post notified the world (falsely) where Mr. Trump was. Actually, he was at the 21 Club.At 7:36 p.m., a Twitter post notified the world (falsely) where Mr. Trump was. Actually, he was at the 21 Club.
But it was not until 8:20 p.m. that the reporters who were supposed to be with Mr. Trump saw that message and hopped in a cab to Keene’s, then realized he was at 21 Club and rerouted.But it was not until 8:20 p.m. that the reporters who were supposed to be with Mr. Trump saw that message and hopped in a cab to Keene’s, then realized he was at 21 Club and rerouted.
More than an hour after the president-elect had left his apartment, the press arrived, only to be pushed back out of view of the restaurant. More than an hour after the president-elect had left his apartment, the news media arrived, only to be pushed back out of view of the restaurant.
The Trump family returned to Trump Tower at 9:41 p.m., again without the president-elect’s pool.The Trump family returned to Trump Tower at 9:41 p.m., again without the president-elect’s pool.
Mr. Trump appears to have woken up unhappy with the portrayal of his transition in disarray.Mr. Trump appears to have woken up unhappy with the portrayal of his transition in disarray.
First came:First came:
The transition has let it be known that any requests for such security clearance must have come from low-level staff members uncleared to make that demand.The transition has let it be known that any requests for such security clearance must have come from low-level staff members uncleared to make that demand.
Then came:Then came:
Followed by: The Times never said Mr. Trump hadn’t spoken to foreign leaders. On the contrary, the report said that he had, but that some allies were having to reach him by calling the switchboard at Trump Tower.
That first Twitter post against The Times was followed by another misrepresentation of the reporting:
Concluding with:Concluding with:
And what was the president-elect doing at the 21 Club on Wednesday night out of reporters’ earshot? He was promising a group of well-heeled patrons that he would lower their taxes.And what was the president-elect doing at the 21 Club on Wednesday night out of reporters’ earshot? He was promising a group of well-heeled patrons that he would lower their taxes.
Some patrons laughed.Some patrons laughed.
Mr. Trump, who lives on Fifth Avenue, campaigned as a champion of the middle class.Mr. Trump, who lives on Fifth Avenue, campaigned as a champion of the middle class.
A senior Republican House staff member says that the Trump transition team is looking to fill many lower- and midlevel national security and counterterrorism jobs with Capitol Hill staffers who already have the security clearances that can otherwise take months to obtain.
While this happens to some extent after every election, this aide says poaching is likely to be even greater this time around because Team Trump has blacklisted so many Republicans who signed “Never Trump” letters during the campaign season.
The hunt on Capitol Hill could strip valuable expertise from House and Senate foreign relations, armed services, intelligence and homeland security committees — panels that figured to be a check on Trump administration policies in these areas.
As the president-elect conducts a chaotic search for his government’s top officials, one person — Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama — is wielding outsize influence, according to those familiar with deliberations on the 26th floor of Trump Tower.As the president-elect conducts a chaotic search for his government’s top officials, one person — Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama — is wielding outsize influence, according to those familiar with deliberations on the 26th floor of Trump Tower.
Not only is Mr. Sessions a candidate to become secretary of defense or attorney general, having been one of Mr. Trump’s most ferocious allies on the campaign trail, but his top aides are in key positions of influence.Not only is Mr. Sessions a candidate to become secretary of defense or attorney general, having been one of Mr. Trump’s most ferocious allies on the campaign trail, but his top aides are in key positions of influence.
Rick Dearborn, the chief of staff for Mr. Sessions in the Senate, has become the chief operational director of the transition effort, replacing rivals who had been loyal to Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who was ousted as the head of the transition. He will direct the activities of those recruiting thousands of people hoping for a job in the new administration.Rick Dearborn, the chief of staff for Mr. Sessions in the Senate, has become the chief operational director of the transition effort, replacing rivals who had been loyal to Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who was ousted as the head of the transition. He will direct the activities of those recruiting thousands of people hoping for a job in the new administration.
And Stephen Miller, a quirky, sideburned spokesman for Mr. Sessions on Capitol Hill, who served as a warm-up act for Mr. Trump’s rallies, is one of the president-elect’s senior policy advisers helping to guide appointments. Mr. Miller’s aggressive critique of illegal immigration on behalf of Mr. Sessions has given him a voice at the center of the transition.And Stephen Miller, a quirky, sideburned spokesman for Mr. Sessions on Capitol Hill, who served as a warm-up act for Mr. Trump’s rallies, is one of the president-elect’s senior policy advisers helping to guide appointments. Mr. Miller’s aggressive critique of illegal immigration on behalf of Mr. Sessions has given him a voice at the center of the transition.
It is unclear whether Mr. Sessions will be tapped for the Trump cabinet, a move that could cause years-old accusations that he made racist remarks — which he denies — to resurface. But at least one influential Republican colleague in the Senate says such a nomination could happen.It is unclear whether Mr. Sessions will be tapped for the Trump cabinet, a move that could cause years-old accusations that he made racist remarks — which he denies — to resurface. But at least one influential Republican colleague in the Senate says such a nomination could happen.
“I believe Senator Sessions served Donald Trump at the highest level,” said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who is influential in military policy and was highly critical of Mr. Trump’s candidacy. “I think he is a good, competent and capable man.”“I believe Senator Sessions served Donald Trump at the highest level,” said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who is influential in military policy and was highly critical of Mr. Trump’s candidacy. “I think he is a good, competent and capable man.”
Both parties in the Senate will hold their leadership elections on Wednesday, and for the Democrats, it is truly the end of an era. For the first time since 1999, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who is retiring, will not be part of the leadership team.Both parties in the Senate will hold their leadership elections on Wednesday, and for the Democrats, it is truly the end of an era. For the first time since 1999, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who is retiring, will not be part of the leadership team.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, who has officially been the No. 3 but was central to drafting Democratic strategy, is set to take over for his longtime ally.Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, who has officially been the No. 3 but was central to drafting Democratic strategy, is set to take over for his longtime ally.
A bit of a question mark for the Democrats is who is going to take on the unenviable job of running their midterm campaign operation given they are at a serious disadvantage in 2018 — 25 seats up for re-election compared with eight for the Republicans. There have been suggestions that the job might fall to a newcomer, Senator-elect Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who has extensive campaign experience from his time running the House campaign organization.A bit of a question mark for the Democrats is who is going to take on the unenviable job of running their midterm campaign operation given they are at a serious disadvantage in 2018 — 25 seats up for re-election compared with eight for the Republicans. There have been suggestions that the job might fall to a newcomer, Senator-elect Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who has extensive campaign experience from his time running the House campaign organization.
Among the Republicans, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will be returned as the majority leader, rewarded for holding on to the Senate — not to mention that pivotal Supreme Court seat he held open on what seemed a faint prayer that Mr. Trump would prevail.Among the Republicans, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will be returned as the majority leader, rewarded for holding on to the Senate — not to mention that pivotal Supreme Court seat he held open on what seemed a faint prayer that Mr. Trump would prevail.
For the second time in less than a week, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his successor, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, are to huddle and discuss the transfer of power.For the second time in less than a week, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his successor, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, are to huddle and discuss the transfer of power.
On Wednesday, they are set to gather for a meal at the Naval Observatory, where Mr. Pence will make his new home. They are expected to continue their discussion about the vice-presidential portfolio of responsibilities and to demonstrate to the country that unity is possible after a caustic campaign.On Wednesday, they are set to gather for a meal at the Naval Observatory, where Mr. Pence will make his new home. They are expected to continue their discussion about the vice-presidential portfolio of responsibilities and to demonstrate to the country that unity is possible after a caustic campaign.
Although their first postelection meeting was described as cordial, Mr. Biden took the fight to Mr. Trump as fiercely as anyone on the campaign trail. In one instance, Mr. Biden mused that if he and Mr. Trump were back in high school, he would “take him behind the gym.”Although their first postelection meeting was described as cordial, Mr. Biden took the fight to Mr. Trump as fiercely as anyone on the campaign trail. In one instance, Mr. Biden mused that if he and Mr. Trump were back in high school, he would “take him behind the gym.”
But with the election behind them and with the Pence and Biden families in tow, Wednesday’s lunch is expected to be far friendlier.But with the election behind them and with the Pence and Biden families in tow, Wednesday’s lunch is expected to be far friendlier.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is to meet Mr. Trump on Thursday in New York to try to get off on a decent footing after a campaign in which Mr. Trump demanded that Japan pay more for troop support and take more responsibility for its defense.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is to meet Mr. Trump on Thursday in New York to try to get off on a decent footing after a campaign in which Mr. Trump demanded that Japan pay more for troop support and take more responsibility for its defense.