On January 6, outgoing President Joe Biden condemned the Capitol attack, which occurred on the same day in 2021.
“We should be proud that our democracy withstood this assault … and we should be glad that we will not see such a shameful attack again this year,” Biden wrote in an opinion post in the Washington Post.
Biden said the certification would proceed peacefully without the violence seen in 2021, and highlighted the difference between that chaotic day and the orderly transition planned for this year.
However, newly elected President Donald Trump does not believe so.
US President-elect Donald Trump has publicly accused President Joe Biden of intentionally making the presidential transition difficult, citing recent executive orders on climate change and other official acts taken during Biden’s final weeks in office.
Trump, who is scheduled to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, claimed Biden is doing everything possible to hinder the transition process.
“Biden is doing everything possible to make the transition as difficult as possible”, he said, specifically mentioning “lawfare” and “expensive and ridiculous executive orders” on climate change, which he dubbed the “Green New Scam”.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump assured his supporters that these executive orders would be rescinded shortly, and that his administration would prioritize “common sense and strength.” He also vowed to rescind Biden’s recent executive orders, including a ban on drilling for oil and natural gas off most of the US coastline.
Biden’s decision to halt new drilling along the entire East Coast, as well as in California, Oregon and Washington state, was made just two weeks before Trump’s inauguration. Trump has promised to boost domestic energy production, and it is unclear whether he will be able to reverse Biden’s decision on oil drilling.
Despite Trump’s claims that Biden’s White House has not been cooperative during the transition, his incoming chief of staff Susie Wills has said that the White House has been helpful. Wills praised White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients for his professionalism and assistance in leading the transition process.
Despite some Republicans expressing concerns about criminal cases filed against Trump, the Trump transition team has reached agreement on matters such as background checks for incoming officials.
