Donald Trump reportedly 'surprised at the scope' of the president's duties

Donald Trump will be getting more help from the White House during the next several months than incoming presidents typically receive, The Wall Street Journal reports.

People with knowledge of Trump's meeting on Thursday with President Obama told the Journal Obama realized that Trump, who has no experience in government or the military, will need more guidance, and he will spend more time with him than previously expected. As Obama explained the duties that come along with running the country, "Trump seemed surprised by the scope," the Journal reports, and Trump's aides were also "unaware that the entire presidential staff working in the West Wing had to be replaced at the end of Mr. Obama's term."

Trump's transition team is not where it needs to be, people familiar with the process told WSJ. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was supposed to lead the team, but he was replaced Friday by Mike Pence, the vice president-elect, following the conviction of Christie's onetime allies in the Bridgegate scandal. The team has been late in making announcements and decisions because of this, but also because Trump's own advisers were shocked he won on Tuesday and have been scrambling, a senior aide told WSJ. The communications director for the transition team declined to comment to the Journal.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up