Trump officials reach out to Biden team: 'Looking forward to getting out of here'

While former President Donald Trump instigates a coup to oust President-elect Joe Biden, both current and previous officials from the former's administration have reached out to the incoming President's transition team, CNN reports. Evidently, Trump's inability to value the results of the Presidential elections and let go of his seat at the White House has frustrated even those who are supposed to be on his side. The transition period is a crucial time for the incoming administration in order to ensure a smooth and seamless transfer of governance. Trump's stubborn attitude towards the process has thrown a wrench in the works.

While the outreach is informal in nature, it is a sign of frustration amongst even those affiliated with the Trump administration. The General Services Administration (GSA) is yet to acknowledge Biden's victory and begin the formal transition. Owing to this, the incoming President is yet to gain access to important contacts with federal agencies, funding to help ramp up government hiring for the new administration, as well as classified intelligence briefings. While the outreach is rather informal in nature, a former Trump official has claimed that it was a way for government servants to place their duty to the country over partisan considerations.

At present, the conversation these officials are able to have are not as detailed as formal briefings under an officially sanctioned transition would be. Nonetheless, current and former members of the Trump administration want to lend a helping hand to prepare Biden for some of the issues he may face when he assumes office. One former official said he emailed a member of the incoming administration in a similar role with an offer to help. Meanwhile, a current member of Trump's administration said that shared, "Nothing that would get us in trouble. Just an offer to be of help. They know what we mean, and what we can and can't do or say."

Some Biden aides have acknowledged the outreach, conveying that they have appreciated the help. They noted, nonetheless, that this was not as "robust" as a traditional transition of power. Kate Bedingfield, deputy campaign manager and transition adviser to Biden, was one of them. "It requires more than former officials choosing to step forward and be helpful to ensure a smooth transition of power," she stated. "GSA should follow the law and ascertain the results of the election so that Americans get a smooth and effective handoff between administrations."

Overall, White House officials have criticized the ongoing drama. Despite the fact that the Trump administration is set to come to a close, the West Wing has been engulfed by one controversy after another. One claimed that a Biden administration would be "a nice change of pace" in comparison. Another, who had already sent out their resume to potential employers, affirmed, "Looking forward to getting out of here."