The State Department and President-elect Trump’s transition team are finally working together as of Thursday evening, following a week of no formal talks between the two parties.
A CNN reporter tweeted Thursday that State spokesman John Kirby told him the department is “now in contact” with Trump’s team.
Just in: State Dept “now in contact w/ President-elect’s transition representatives. We look fwd to supporting their work” – @statedeptspox
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 17, 2016
The announcement comes hours after Trump met in person with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Trump has spoken by phone with other world leaders this week, provoking concerns that the incoming president might be making these calls on nonsecure lines. But Kirby suggested Thursday the department isn’t alarmed about that.
The State Department had pledged to provide any help to Trump’s team once the transition team made contact with them. Kirby also defended Trump’s team from media reports suggesting a lack of contact with the State Department is indicative of deeper problems with the one-week-old transition.
