Trump’s Ascension to the Presidency Signals Change from the last Handover
In a notable departure from the contentious 2021 transition, President-elect Donald Trump traveled to Washington on Saturday abroad a government-supplied aircraft, highlighting President Joe Biden’s commitment to maintaining traditional transition protocols.
Trump’s Plans for Travel Cooperation of Signals
Trump’s return to Washington transportation plans highlight some significant changes from his prior administration:
- Trump decided to forego his personal “Trump Force One” in favor of a Boeing 757-200 used by the US military.
- The government aircraft has “United States of America” markings and the traditional blue and white color scheme.
- The given aircraft is the same model that Air Force Two and other senior people fly.
- For family members, Trump’s private plane stayed at Palm Beach International Airport.
Trump Family Travel Arrangements
At Palm Beach International Airport, the Trump family divided their trip plans across the two planes:
- Eric Trump decided to take the private Trump plane with his wife, Lara.
- Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were seen getting on the government-owned Boeing 757-200.
- The three-hour flight to Dulles was taken by the president-elect himself aboard the government plane.
Biden Administration Sets Different Tone for Trump Transition
The way that President Biden handled the transition was very different from what happened in 2021. His government has:
- Explicitly instructed officials to cooperate fully with Trump’s transition team
- Provided traditional government transportation resources
- Maintained established protocols for the presidential transition
In contrast to 2021, when Trump refused to attend Biden’s inauguration and contested the election results, the current transition has gone more smoothly. Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding Trump’s return to office, the use of official government vehicles represents a more conventional transfer of power as Washington gets ready for Monday’s inaugural rituals.
The choice to use government planes for the president-elect’s travel is consistent with long-standing presidential transition customs and represents a return to more traditional methods of executive power transfer.