US election: what happens now Donald Trump has conceded defeat?
President tells federal agency to ‘do what needs to be done’ to hand power to Joe Biden

Donald Trump has come as close as he may get to formally conceding defeat in the US election, telling the federal agency tasked with overseeing the transition of power to begin preparing Joe Biden for office.
Despite vowing to continue contesting the election, Trump said yesterday that the General Services Administration (GSA) should “do what needs to be done” to aid the president-elect. The GSA subsequently declared Biden the “apparent winner” of the contest for the White House.
“In the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily [Murphy, the GSA Administrator] and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same,” Trump tweeted.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
There was no “mea culpa for all the bad blood” created by his refusal to concede earlier, but Trump has “bowed to public pressure” in acknowledging that he will leave the Oval Office, says Sky News.
Murphy, a Trump appointee, has “faced bipartisan criticism for failing to begin the transition process sooner”, The Telegraph reports. Her refusal to do so until now has prevented Biden’s team from “working with career agency officials on plans for his administration, including in critical national security and public health areas”.
The Democrat will now have access to federal funds and an official office to conduct his transition over the next two months. Biden’s transition website has also changed to a US government domain, marking the change.
The future US leader and his vice-president, Kamala Harris, will be given regular national security briefings going forward, having previously been locked out of classified information due to Trump’s refusal to recognise their victory.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Democrat’s team has welcomed the release of government aid as a crucial element of “a smooth and peaceful transfer of power”.
Joe Evans is the world news editor at TheWeek.co.uk. He joined the team in 2019 and held roles including deputy news editor and acting news editor before moving into his current position in early 2021. He is a regular panellist on The Week Unwrapped podcast, discussing politics and foreign affairs.
Before joining The Week, he worked as a freelance journalist covering the UK and Ireland for German newspapers and magazines. A series of features on Brexit and the Irish border got him nominated for the Hostwriter Prize in 2019. Prior to settling down in London, he lived and worked in Cambodia, where he ran communications for a non-governmental organisation and worked as a journalist covering Southeast Asia. He has a master’s degree in journalism from City, University of London, and before that studied English Literature at the University of Manchester.
-
Southern barbecue: This year’s top three
Feature A weekend-only restaurant, a 90-year-old pitmaster, and more
-
Film reviews: Anemone and The Smashing Machine
Feature A recluse receives an unwelcome guest and a pioneering UFC fighter battles addiction
-
Music reviews: Geese, Jeff Tweedy, and Mariah Carey
Feature “Getting Killed,” “Twilight Override,” and “Here for It All”
-
Can Trump bully Netanyahu into Gaza peace?
Today's Big Question The Israeli leader was ‘strong-armed’ into new peace deal
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
The GOP: Merging flag and cross
Feature Donald Trump has launched a task force to pursue “anti-Christian policies”
-
Five key questions about the Gaza peace deal
The Explainer Many ‘unresolved hurdles’ remain before Donald Trump’s 20-point plan can get the go-ahead
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?
Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her