When a new president is elected, in his first days of transition, there are phone calls he has to make and receive from foreign leaders. There’s even an order of precedence about which countries’ leaders get called first, or which calls are received first. Joe Biden has already been making those calls, and he’s already spoken to the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Japan, Germany, Ireland and others. As of yet, I don’t think he’s spoken to President Xi Jinping of China, and President Xi has not commented on the American election, I don’t believe. Basically, President-Elect Biden is following all of the State Department protocols, many of which have been in place for decades. In fact, the people NOT following diplomatic protocols are the people within the State Dept.
A stack of messages from foreign leaders to President-elect Joe Biden are sitting at the State Department but the Trump administration is preventing him from accessing them, according to State Department officials familiar with the messages. Traditionally, the State Department supports all communications for the President-elect, which is why many countries began sending messages to State over the weekend. But with Biden prohibited from accessing State Department resources by the Trump administration, because President Donald Trump refuses to accept Biden’s victory, dozens of incoming messages have not been received.
Biden’s team is in touch with foreign governments without State Department involvement, and he has held numerous calls with leaders, including Germany’s Angela Merkel and Canada’s Justin Trudeau. But they are operating without the logistical and translation support that the State Department operations center provides.
“They would prefer to be using the State Department resources,” said a source familiar with the situation, who noted that the Biden team is having to deal with the unexpected challenge of facilitating these calls.
Not only is Biden being blocked by the State Department from receiving messages and assistance facilitating and from preparing for calls, on Tuesday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory, saying that “there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration,” igniting a furor and roiling diplomats.
I mean, on one hand, after decades in government and eight years as vice president, Joe Biden knows more about diplomacy and diplomatic protocol than everyone in the Trump administration combined. Even if he had the support of Pompeo’s State Department, I doubt it would make *that* much difference in the substance of the calls. But g–damn, every single person in the Trump administration is going to behave like the absolute worst, right? At this point, what’s stopping some State Dept deputy-director from refusing Pompeo’s orders and passing on these messages to the Biden camp? What would happen? The deputy would probably be fired… only to get re-hired by the Biden camp. Why aren’t there more people within the Trump administration willing to do their f–king jobs? Remember this when we hear from all of them that they were “just following orders.”
Photos courtesy of Getty.
These people are such trash.
I heard one Republican senator is going to step in and help brief Biden on matters of national security because of the incredible threat of not doing so. Harris already has clearance for a lot of things. The Biden camp has been reaching out to all of their resources in government departments to get briefings. So yeah Biden and Harris can get around the Trump blockade, but they shouldn’t have to.
All of these Trump sycophants should be blacklisted Jan 20 in Washington. You made your bed, time to sleep in it.
I think there are a lot of people in the government who have worked under multiple administrations and that hate Trump who will assist Biden. He’s been around a long time and has friends on both sides as well as the military. Trump is playing to his base, he has to look like he’s “winning” something.
So much for the Patriotism they bang on about. The US looks vulnerable and weak right now to any tin pot dictator wishing to take a pop. Maybe that is what the GOP want ?
Pompeo repeated his position yesterday. He’s committing treason openly. This is a coup
This is what my question is: at what point do we have people with ethical and moral standards step in? It’s just absurd to me that these grown men are behaving this way.
Yes it is-if people are wondering when to step in it’s now.
What? I keep hearing about how the checks and balances are suddenly going to work and everything is going to go by the book any day now.
Even if it wasn’t a coup (and I agree that it is), what these morons are doing is sending out a clear message to our enemies that no one who can do anything knows what they’re fucking doing or is paying attention and that this is a great opportunity to strike the country in some way. If we make it to January 20th without either a coup or a terrorist attack, I’ll be amazed.
The US has rarely been in such a weakened, vulnerable state and it is all courtesy of the guy who is supposed to be running the show and the biggest bunch of hypocrites on the planet.
I REALLY wish people would stop throwing around the term “coup”. This is not a coup. It’s totally reckless and dangerous and petty but it is NOT a coup. A coup would involve the military.
ETA: I get that people are stressed but we REALLY need cooler heads to prevail and not lean into Cheeto’s chaos. That’s what they want.
I have NO doubt that Biden’s team is taking this seriously and is doing everything they can behind the scenes to get this right.
@snuffles- Yes! this is not a “coup” but a clever way for Trump to raise money for for his “election defense”. Money he gets to keep!
Agreed, but I think we are in the minority lol.
I’ll tell you one reason I don’t like it – it misstates what is actually happening here and it diminishes that. So when Biden takes office on January 20, people will say “lol you all thought it was a coup and its not we had a peaceful transition of power so get over it.”
For example, one of my biggest fears when Trump took office was that he was going to start a war (conventional or nuclear.) Thankfully that didn’t happen. but that doesn’t mean that his administration made America safer or that other horrible things didn’t happen. Its just that my biggest fear didn’t come to pass. But many Trump supporters would use that and say “you were so afraid over NOTHING.”
Trump and his administration are causing a lot of damage right now to democracy and to our processes and systems. It doesn’t need to be a coup for that to still be the case and we should really focus on that .
Coup also means removal of an existing government. Trump is still the president. If he refuses to leave and tries to use the military to remain in power then it’s a coup. But guys, think about this, even if Trump did this, no other legitimate government would recognize us, they would cut off diplomatic relations, trade deals, etc. We would lose our allies, except other dictators. It would make it difficult for for companies to do business here. Plus the penalty for treason can be life in prison or death. Most of these guys wouldn’t join the military.
Snuffles, it actually very much is arguably a coup. Multiple academics whose work centers on authoritarianism have pointed out how this mirrors the beginning stages of a coup. I strongly recommend you check out Sarah Kendzior and Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s work. They both are detailing exactly how the GOP’s behavior is designed to break the machinery of government so that Trump and the GOP can seize power in the chaos.
Also, MsIam, coups do not happen overnight. It’s like that old phrase about going bankrupt. “How did I go bankrupt? Slowly, and then all at once.” Yes, the literal meaning of coup is a sudden event, but it is important that we recognize what is happening before it’s too late. If we wait until Donald Trump refuses to leave office to accept what he is attempting to do, it will be too late.
Finally, a coup DOES NOT require the use of military. A coup is typically “an illegal, unconstitutional seizure of power by a political faction, the military, or a dictator.” Powell, Jonathan M.; Thyne, Clayton L. (1 March 2011). “Global instances of coups from 1950 to 2010 A new dataset”. Journal of Peace Research.
Thank you so much for this info @Another Anna! Very informative and echoes so much of what’s been on my mind with this, too. I grew up in a country that had regular military coups, and it’s scary, very scary. The last four years have felt similar…the growing militarized presence and acceptance of these military arms of government that are doing the work of a dictator-esque president. Even Bush’s great grandfather tried to stage a coup with financial sector back in the 1930s, I believe it was, with Roosevelt. I think people don’t associate the word coup with the United States (a product of the whole “first world” “third world” propaganda framing) which is why it’s so hard for folks to conceive that it could happen here.
My opinion of this slob would get me thrown off this site. Let’s hope the Trump crime organization realizes the futility of their actions soon.
I really doubt if you voiced how you truly feel none of us would have a problem with it.
One would hope that other countries will just start bypassing Trump and contacting Biden’s people directly.
I think that will happen. Other countries don’t want to go down on the sinking Trump ship, probably not even Russia.
they are. Biden has already spoken to many other world leaders.
This bloated buffoon can say what he wants….
In 69 days Trump gets escorted out (on his feet or off them, I’m not picky) of the WH and they should well remember that the secret service works for the people/country, and not for the republicans.
The Nazis too were just “following orders.” Nietzsche was right. Time is just a flat circle.
Came here to say this. It’s a slippery slope.
I watched Amanpour last night while she interviewed someone from Newsmax – the new Fox News (not sure if he was CEO or owner and she was GREAT). I understand that the states need to certify the election results and the guy representing Newmax even stated that the states that were called for Trump need to be certified, but damn it there should be something in place to help us avoid this type of craziness because it can very well cause the US to implode. It’s all Trump’s ego that is driving this and the fact that the Republican politicians need to win the Georgia runoff in January. Thanks to those asses, who put party above country, we have a mess on our hands and are the laughing stock of the world. Nicely done, they should all be fired.
This is all to appease the very damaged ego of Dump – based on his expressions at the event yesterday he is NOT handling this well and its likely temper tantrum central in the WH.
Of course they aren’t. This is problematic and not good but not surprising. Passing on those messages or cooperating in any way with the Biden transition would mean they agree that Biden is the next president, and the Trump administration refuses to openly admit that.
Seriously?
Once again, Trump and his cronies are proving that it is *all* about them. They could basically give a f*ck if they screw the people they are elected to represent. His ego means more to them than our safety.
They should be ashamed of themselves; however, I guarantee you that they aren’t.
I don’t understand how this is allowed. They’re getting in the way of the will of the American people and holding up Biden from getting necessary work done. How they’re not tossed out for such childish behavior is shocking and disappointing. In any normal job you’d get fired for acting like this. Why does our government have such low standards for professionalism?
Contrary to what some have said, I don’t think this is a coup. It’s a tantrum, and Trump will be dragged out on Jan. 20 if need be. I have every confidence Biden will be sworn in on schedule whether Trump approves or not.
It is the will of many millions of Americans, but it’s also the will of 70 million Trump supporters who, at one whiff of Democratic strong-arming, would be out with their semi-automatics and MAGA hats storming state federal buildings, governors’ residences and every Biden/Harris supporter they know. My best friend lives in Richmond, VA (she’s Canadian, her husband is American) and she posted a generic “Welcome to the White House Joe and Jill” note on her FB page after Biden won and her husband’s relatives tore her a new one. These people are not just stupid, they are violently stubborn, pig-headed and so sucked in by the Trump’s lies that they literally will die on a hill for him. This is not a coup as others have said as it doesn’t involve the military, but it is teetering on civil war.
That’s my question. Why are they allowed to continue with the obstruction? I just don’t get it.
These morons can’t even book the four seasons philly correctly. Their affidavits are a joke. They are idiots, and aren’t capable of pulling off any overthrow of the results.
This is mudding the waters for the future. This is to give Trump something to rant about on his new post presidency TV network or show. Newsmax or OANN will take diaper Don once he’s banned from Twitter. He’s gonna slink off to FL for Thanksgiving and never return.
I will never forget who stood up for what’s right and who didn’t. Never. At this point, we need to gut the White House, fumigate, sage, have an exorcism and rebuild it.
Just following orders??, Yeah, just like the Nazis did??, What they are doing even legal??, This is getting ridiculous!! Even Jared and Ivanka know that this, is beyond absurd and are trying to leave and try to “save” any dignity they have left (which is none)!! 😁
Coup or not, whatever this is or isn’t, there has to be a way of managing this. He cannot just have free reign.
When are we going to talk about Trump firing & then packing the top level of the Pentagon with his insane loyalists? It is so alarming & scares the bejinkers out of me. I’m starting to jump on board with the idea that this is indeed an attempt at a coup.
@elisem
Exactly! Cheeto is throwing a tantrum now but soon he will pivot to a fictional 2024 run which he will use to “raise money” that he will siphon off to pay off his enormous debts. Then use what’s left to start a new grift. That seems to be the carrot people are dangling in front of him to get him to concede and let the transfer happen.
But I seriously doubt he will live to see 2024 with his poor health. And if he does survive, he will be in jail.
Post 9/11, one of the weak points identified in the investigation was the delay in transition (due to Florida and hanging chads). Getting behind on things like national security, vetting of potential hires, intel briefings, etc. is a really serious issue.
What’s even more bananas is that Biden, as an old VP, actually HAD access to State resources. But now he’s being denied those too.