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Trump accepts transition to Biden must begin Donald Trump accepts US presidency transition to Joe Biden must begin
(about 1 hour later)
How other incumbents left the White House after losingHow other incumbents left the White House after losing
Donald Trump has accepted a formal US transition should begin for President-elect Joe Biden to take office.Donald Trump has accepted a formal US transition should begin for President-elect Joe Biden to take office.
The president said the federal agency overseeing the handover must "do what needs to be done", even as he vowed to keep contesting his election defeat.The president said the federal agency overseeing the handover must "do what needs to be done", even as he vowed to keep contesting his election defeat.
The General Services Administration (GSA) said it was acknowledging Mr Biden as the "apparent winner".The General Services Administration (GSA) said it was acknowledging Mr Biden as the "apparent winner".
It came as Mr Biden's victory in the state of Michigan was officially certified, a major blow to Mr Trump.It came as Mr Biden's victory in the state of Michigan was officially certified, a major blow to Mr Trump.
After the GSA announcement, the Pentagon said it would provide "support to the Biden team... in a professional, orderly, and efficient manner that is befitting of the public's expectation of the Department and our commitment to national security". The GSA announcement means the president-elect now has access to top security briefings, office space and government officials as he prepares to take office on 20 January.
And Mr Biden's transition website was changed to a US government domain. His transition website has now changed to a US government domain. He will begin announcing the people he wants in the top jobs in his cabinet on Tuesday.
Looks like someone’s got a .gov account now. https://t.co/oexOjx8W7P What Biden's new foreign policy team tells us
Biden to pick 'first US female treasury secretary'
John Kerry named as Biden's climate tsar
How did the Biden team respond?How did the Biden team respond?
It welcomed the start of the transition process as the Democratic president-elect gears up to be sworn in on 20 January.It welcomed the start of the transition process as the Democratic president-elect gears up to be sworn in on 20 January.
Joe Biden has been elected America's 46th presidentJoe Biden has been elected America's 46th president
"Today's decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track," a team statement said."Today's decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track," a team statement said.
Earlier, Mr Biden unveiled a foreign policy and national security team consisting of old colleagues from his years in the Obama administration.Earlier, Mr Biden unveiled a foreign policy and national security team consisting of old colleagues from his years in the Obama administration.
He will appoint Anthony Blinken as secretary of state and John Kerry as climate envoy, while Janet Yellen is tipped to be the first female US treasury secretary. He will appoint Anthony Blinken as secretary of state and John Kerry as climate envoy, while Janet Yellen is tipped to be the first female US treasury secretary. The list came ahead of a formal announcement Tuesday.
What Biden's new foreign policy team tells us Has Trump conceded?
Biden to pick 'first US female treasury secretary' Mr Trump tweeted as the GSA, which is tasked with formally beginning presidential changeovers, informed the Biden camp that it would start the transition process.
John Kerry named as Biden's climate tsar GSA administrator Emily Murphy said she was making $6.3m (£4.7m) in funds available to the president-elect.
What did Trump say? Mr Trump said: "In the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same."
Mr Trump tweeted as the GSA, which is tasked with formally beginning presidential transitions, informed the Biden camp that it would start the transition process. He did not concede, however, and went on to repeat unsubstantiated claims of corruption, pledging to keep up the "good fight".
Administrator Emily Murphy said she was making $6.3m (£4.7m) in funds available to the president-elect. GSA chief Emily Murphy wrote in a letter to Mr Biden on Monday that he could begin to prepare to take the reins of power
While pledging to keep up the "good fight", the president said: "Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same." Ms Murphy, a Trump appointee, cited "recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results" in her decision to start the process.
I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country. She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good... She said she had received no pressure from the White House over the timing of the move.
...fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same. "I did, however, receive threats online, by phone, and by mail directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely," Ms Murphy said in a letter to Mr Biden.
Ms Murphy, a Trump appointee, cited "recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results" in her decision to send the letter.
She said she had received no pressure from the White House over the timing of her decision.
"To be clear I did not receive any direction to delay my determination," Ms Murphy said in a letter to Mr Biden.
"I did, however, receive threats online, by phone, and by mail directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely.
"Even in the face of thousands of threats I have remained committed to upholding the law.""Even in the face of thousands of threats I have remained committed to upholding the law."
She had faced criticism from both political sides for failing to begin the transition process sooner, usually a routine step between the election and the inauguration.She had faced criticism from both political sides for failing to begin the transition process sooner, usually a routine step between the election and the inauguration.
Ms Murphy missed a deadline on Monday set by Democrats in the House of Representatives to brief lawmakers about the delay. What has the Republican Party been saying?
What have Republicans been saying? Mr Trump's fellow Republicans have increasingly been breaking ranks over the transition, with several of them urging him to let it begin.
Mr Trump's fellow Republicans have increasingly been breaking ranks over the transition, with several of them speaking out on Monday. Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, who is retiring, said the president should "put the country first" and help Mr Biden succeed.
Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, who is retiring, released a statement saying that Mr Trump should "put the country first" and help Mr Biden succeed. "When you are in public life, people remember the last thing you do."
"When you are in public life, people remember the last thing you do," Mr Alexander said.
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West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito said "at some point, the 2020 election must end".West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito said "at some point, the 2020 election must end".
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana noted the Trump legal team had failed to present evidence of the massive fraud which they claim stole the election, adding that the transition "should begin for the sake of the country".
Ohio Senator Rob Portman argued for Mr Biden to receive top-secret briefings on national security and to be updated by the Trump administration on plans for coronavirus vaccine distribution.
More than 160 business leaders had also urged Ms Murphy in an open letter to immediately recognise Mr Biden as president-elect.More than 160 business leaders had also urged Ms Murphy in an open letter to immediately recognise Mr Biden as president-elect.
"Withholding resources and vital information from an incoming administration puts the public and economic health and security of America at risk,″ they wrote."Withholding resources and vital information from an incoming administration puts the public and economic health and security of America at risk,″ they wrote.
What happened in Michigan?What happened in Michigan?
One of two Republicans on the Michigan State Board of Canvassers joined the two Democrats to finalise the result. The other Republican abstained. Mr Biden won the state by more than 150,000 votes. Michigan is the latest hotly contested state to certify its election result, despite disputes from Mr Trump's campaign.
Abstaining Republican board member Norman Shinkle had suggested delaying the certification over irregularities affecting a few hundred votes in one county. Mr Biden won in Michigan by more than 154,000 votes. However, Mr Trump claimed voter fraud swayed the outcome, without offering evidence.
How to move on after the US election The president's Republican allies had called for the certification - which finalises the outcome of a state's popular vote - to be delayed for two weeks to audit ballots in a heavily Democratic county.
But his colleague, Republican Aaron Van Langeveld, on Monday said their duty was "simple" and there was no option but certification. However, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers voted to certify the result on Monday. One of two Republicans on the Michigan State Board of Canvassers joined the two Democrats to finalise the outcome.
Mr Trump's legal team said they would still challenge Michigan's results. The other Republican board member, Norman Shinkle, abstained, suggesting delaying the certification over irregularities affecting a few hundred votes in one county.
Adviser Jenna Ellis said certification was "simply a procedural step". She added: "Americans must be assured that the final results are fair and legitimate."
But time is running out. On 14 December, Mr Biden's victory is set to be approved by the US Electoral College.
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How to move on after the US election
Mr Biden will now receive all 16 of the state's votes in the US Electoral College, which is expected to approve Mr Biden's victory on 14 December.
Mr Trump's legal team said they would still challenge Michigan's results.
What about Trump's other legal challenges?What about Trump's other legal challenges?
Mr Trump and his allies have suffered a string of court defeats in key states as they race to challenge the results.Mr Trump and his allies have suffered a string of court defeats in key states as they race to challenge the results.
His campaign has reportedly tried to convince Republican state lawmakers to appoint their own electors to vote for him instead of Mr Biden, but to no avail.
In Pennsylvania, a Republican judge on Saturday ruled that the Trump campaign had tried to "disenfranchise almost seven million voters" with no real evidence. The president's lawyers have appealed now to the Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.In Pennsylvania, a Republican judge on Saturday ruled that the Trump campaign had tried to "disenfranchise almost seven million voters" with no real evidence. The president's lawyers have appealed now to the Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.
Judge dismisses Trump lawsuit in Pennsylvania
The president's other legal efforts in the state have failed to change Mr Biden's lead of some 80,000 votes.The president's other legal efforts in the state have failed to change Mr Biden's lead of some 80,000 votes.
The Trump campaign has also called for another recount in Georgia, after an earlier recount by hand confirmed Mr Biden's win in the state.The Trump campaign has also called for another recount in Georgia, after an earlier recount by hand confirmed Mr Biden's win in the state.
In Wisconsin, a partial recount is under way by request of the Trump campaign. Election officials have accused Trump supporters of obstructing the state's recount of votes.In Wisconsin, a partial recount is under way by request of the Trump campaign. Election officials have accused Trump supporters of obstructing the state's recount of votes.
They said observers for Mr Trump were in some cases challenging every single ballot to deliberately slow down proceedings.They said observers for Mr Trump were in some cases challenging every single ballot to deliberately slow down proceedings.
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