“The president has no public events scheduled” has become the mantra of President Trump’s final days at the White House, repeated seven times in the past two weeks in the daily guidance issued by his press office.
Even on days when he has events listed in his public diary, such as Thursday when he lunched with state attorneys general and spoke at the Congressional Ball, he has often remained out of sight, beyond the reach of news cameras and journalists’ questions.
And while Trump himself fumes about the election result and battles to overturn it, his staff is drifting away, seeking out new jobs and a new life.
A former official, who left before the election, said it was only natural that staff began drifting away from a lame-duck president.
“I’ve had a load of people sending me their resumes,” he said.
The result is a sense that the Trump White House is winding down even as the president fires off furious tweets and refuses to concede.
On Saturday, the president will appear in public for the first time since Tuesday, when he addressed a White House coronavirus vaccine summit and signed an executive order.
He will fly to the U.S. Military Academy for the annual Army-Navy football game, attending the event for his third straight year.
It is part of a sports-heavy period. In the past two weeks, he has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to world-renowned wrestler Dan Gable and to storied football coach Lou Holtz.
The West Wing is decidedly empty, according to regular visitors. The COVID-19 pandemic means staff have been given the option of working from home, but it also lacks the hustle and bustle of the weeks before the election.
“Staffers are putting in banker’s hours,” said Brian Karem, White House correspondent for Playboy and a frequent administration critic. “The pace has slowed dramatically.”
“Some have openly talked about life outside the White House. Others have relaxed a bit and talk about friends, family, and holidays.
“They know it’s over, and some have said Trump should admit as much and move on.”
Last week, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany brought her husband, Sean Gilmartin, a major league baseball pitcher, to watch her fend off questions in the briefing room. Days later, she posted photographs of her family joining her at the White House for a Christmas party.
Other staffers have invited friends and relatives for a tour of the campus.
“It’s a last chance to do it,” said one.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brought his family to the White House on Friday. They posed for the classic souvenir of a photograph at the lectern of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.
“Just as he promised, President Trump is fighting hard for a free and fair election while at the same time carrying out all of his duties to put America first,” he said. “He’s also working to advance meaningful economic stimulus, engaging members of congress on a government funding proposal, and ensuring state and local governments have what they need to respond to the ongoing pandemic.”
Others are plotting their departures before Inauguration Day, despite Trump refusing to concede the election result and reported threats that job hunters will be fired.
Last week, Alyssa Farah went from office to office in the West Wing saying her goodbyes after resigning as communications director to set up a consulting firm.
Departures are common at the end of every presidency. But Trump’s refusal to accept the result has complicated matters for anyone looking beyond the end of the administration on Jan. 20.
The personnel director of the president’s office, John McEntee, reportedly warned staff they would be fired if caught looking for a job while the president contested the outcome.
Whether the president likes it or not, the logistics of transition continue. The General Services Administration, which manages the White House, is planning what it says will be “thorough disinfecting and cleansing” of the 55,000-square-foot executive mansion.
And officials have received instructions on how to save and store written communications in order to ensure a “smooth transition,” complete with directions on how to assemble storage boxes, according to Bloomberg News.
