President-elect Joe Biden has convened outside diplomatic, intelligence, and defense experts as President Trump’s refusal to concede blocks him from speaking directly with sitting administration officials.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal was among a group of 13 foreign policy and national security experts who briefed Biden Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware.
Former President Barack Obama accepted McChrystal’s resignation after the country’s then-top commander in Afghanistan mocked the two-term vice president in a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone. McChrystal endorsed Biden over Trump last month.
The meeting was scheduled since Biden cannot contact Trump administration officials until the General Services Administration “ascertains” him as the president-elect. Multiple outlets called the White House race for Biden on Nov. 7, but Trump has yet to concede as his campaign lawyers challenge the contest’s results in court.
“I am unable to get the briefings that ordinarily would come by now,” Biden said Tuesday. “And so, I just wanted to get your input on what you see ahead. To state the obvious, there’s no presidential responsibility more important than protecting the American people, so I appreciate you taking your time, and I am anxious to hear what you all have to say.”
McChrystal was joined by other military brass, such as Adm. William McRaven, who oversaw the 2011 special operations raid that killed Osama bin Laden, as well as Gen. Lloyd Austin and Liet. Gen. Vincent Stewart.
Obama administration alumni present included former Secretary of Defense Robert Work, United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power, United States Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken, deputy national security adviser Avril Haines, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Biden also sought advice from ex-career officials, such as the CIA’s Carmen Middleton and the State Department’s Nicholas Burns.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris joined the briefing virtually and late after spending the day on Capitol Hill. Harris, California’s junior senator, has continued to receive classified briefings as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
