Trump’s Transition Business Largely Happens After Night Falls
The New York Times
At his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, the president-elect has been hosting diplomatic dinners, announcing cabinet picks and firing off texts to his aides — all after the sun goes down.
It was past midnight in Florida this week when President-elect Donald J. Trump decided to mock Justin Trudeau on social media, calling the prime minister of America’s neighbor the “governor” of “the Great State of Canada.”
The middle-of-the-night jest was the latest reminder that Mr. Trump, a well-known night owl, seems to rev up after the sun goes down. He has been the president-elect (again) for 37 days, but he has been most active in the evenings, hosting lavish dinners, announcing nominations and firing off texts to his aides.
Of the more than 80 personnel announcements Mr. Trump has made since Election Day, 45 have been announced in social media posts and emails that he has sent after 6 p.m. Many have come after 10 p.m., prompting a wave of social media chatter and television coverage that sometimes continues throughout the night and into the early morning hours.
One of his veteran staff members said Mr. Trump was known to leave voice mail messages in the middle of the night saying: “This is your favorite president.” He sometimes follows up the next day, suggesting the person might want to share the audio with his friends and family.
Steven Cheung, who will be the communications director in Mr. Trump’s White House, said that “important work is being done day and night.” He added that the round-the-clock activity is a sign of how serious Mr. Trump is about getting work done starting on Day 1.
“The only complaints I’ve heard are from reporters who are angry their dinner plans at Le Dip and their cocktail parties are spoiled,” he said, referring to the restaurant Le Diplomate, a frequent gathering spot in Washington for journalists and their sources in government.
After criticism from Jewish groups over speeches at a conference, the president of the National Association of Independent Schools said future addresses would be vetted.
Prosecutors in the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, have been presenting evidence at least in part focused on the aide, Ingrid Lewis-Martin.
Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has begun to carve out his own political path, potentially putting him on a collision course with his boss, Gov. Kathy Hochul.
A combative loyalist and the president-elect’s former ambassador to Germany, Mr. Grenell had hoped to be secretary of state.
Mr. Fernandez was a 17-year-old sailor aboard the U.S.S. Curtiss when Japanese forces attacked. He had recently canceled a trip to Hawaii for the 83rd anniversary of the bombing.
President-elect Donald J. Trump made a public show of support for his choice to lead the Defense Department.
Less than two weeks after a tsunami warning, residents were jolted awake before 6 a.m. to consider a new potential disaster scenario.
In the Garden State, where the rash of sightings started a month ago, residents are looking to the skies, wondering why they still don’t have definitive answers from officials.
We want to hear how you imagine the next four years will unfold for you and your loved ones.
Even though Kamala Harris easily won the state, voters ousted more than two dozen Democratic legislators, who they felt had not addressed an affordability crisis.
In Rochester, N.Y., every year in early December thousands of crows descend on the city, which tries to shoo them away with loud noises and bright lights.