The former US President Donald Trump has established his “office of the Former President”, in Palm Beach, Florida. The office will manage his correspondence, appearances, and other official activities to advance the interests of the United States. It would carry on the agenda of his administration through advocacy, organizing, and public activism. A statement on executive letterhead from the office said, “Trump will always and forever be a champion for the American people”. The office will be run by his former administration’s aides and other staff members. Point to be noted that he was prohibited from most social media networks following his supporters’ deadly attack on the US Capitol on 6th January 2021 inspired by his dangerously false election fraud claims. The former president has largely been silent after the inauguration of Joe Biden on 20th January.
Donald Trump fled the White House and Washington DC hours before the ceremony. He golfed at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach the following morning. The former President’s act establishes funding for a president’s office once they leave office, along with access to classified security briefings, personal security, and a pension. Trump, his outgoing administration, and campaign staff have not indicated whether he will re-enter politics after his four-year term. He could end up a significant player in mid-term congressional elections among Republican candidates in 2022. However, his massive base of support could influence GOP designs on another presidential bid in 2024. It is noteworthy that the House of Representatives delivered its article of impeachment to the Senate on Monday.
US Senate will schedule a trial to convict the former president on charges of inciting a riot after the lethal insurrection at the Capitol. The House of Representatives impeached the president a second time on 13th January, with 222 Democrats and 10 Republicans voting to impeach. It is important that the acting US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman informed legislators that there was a failure to adequately prepare for and execute a response to the assault on the US Capitol on 6th January 2021. She also offered sincerest apologies on behalf of her department for what unfolded that day.
Pittman said, “The Department failed to meet its own high standards as well as yours. Let me be clear: the Department should have been more prepared for this attack. By January 4th, the Department knew that the January 6th event would not be like any of the previous protests held in 2020. We knew that militia groups and white supremacists organizations would be attending. We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. We knew that there was a strong potential for violence and that Congress was the target”.