For centuries, the peaceful transfer of power from one President of the United States to the next has been a key ingredient to the perseverance of American democracy.
This involves not only accepting the results of the election, but working with the incoming administration so that the new President can begin governing on day one of their term.
President Donald Trump is doing away with this centuries-long sacrament, refusing to concede the election to President-elect Biden. Now, his administration is refusing to work with Biden to determine the logistics of the transfer.
The administrator for the General Services Administration (GSA) is tasked with signing the paperwork allocating access to funds, officials, office space, and information for the President-elect's transition into power.
According to reporting from the Washington Post, Trump's GSA administrator Emily Murphy has yet to sign this letter and the Trump administration has shown no intention of facilitating the transition.
The development raised even more alarms about how the Trump administration may sabotage the President-elect and the sacred transition of power that's kept American democracy alive.
Trump rejected Biden's olive branch, the first step in doing everything he can to prevent a peaceful transfer of power & Biden's ability to get to work: Trump appointee won't sign authorization for transition team to begin its work this week. https://t.co/byJjrkX1Ht
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) November 9, 2020
Biden team has only 10 weeks to complete a massive transition. By his childish antics, Trump threatens to gum up the works & delay help for tens of millions of Americans. No President in history has been more selfish. @CNN
— David Gergen (@David_Gergen) November 9, 2020
Trump's reckless attempt to slow the Biden transition is an attack on our democracy, and everyone should be condemning it. Period.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) November 9, 2020
With massive challenges ahead, Trump is blocking Biden's transition. He's a spoiled brat who knows he's lost so he upends the game board with a infantile tantrum. The people have spoken. Now let US govern.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) November 9, 2020
Trump is not allowing GSA to begin Biden transition, he's fired the Sec of Defense and replaced him with a political hack, and is close to firing the head of the CIA and FBI.
So Republicans are allowing our nation to become increasingly vulnerable to a virus and foreign enemies
— Chip Franklin "good trouble" (@chipfranklin) November 9, 2020
They're urging Murphy to do her job and sign off on the certification of Biden's transition.
This is Emily Murphy, @GSAEmily. She is the Trump political appointee who is presently refusing to recognize Biden's victory and release funds for the transition to commence. She also helped cover for Trump's profiting off his DC hotel while POTUS. https://t.co/pFtQ1Vxqs6 pic.twitter.com/k0Dqd3JYVh
— Justin Hendrix #ProtectTheResults (@justinhendrix) November 9, 2020
Meet Emily Murphy. She is a traitor to this country. She is refusing to authorize the transition to President-Elect Biden. Emily is going to cause potentially hundreds of thousands of deaths preventing a peaceful transition of power during COVID. Do your job, Emily! https://t.co/Uz5ukZdK1x
— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) November 9, 2020
GSA Admin Emily Murphy must begin the Biden transition without delay. The Administrator plays a critical role in the peaceful transfer of power and ensuring vital government services are not disrupted. This is all the more important amid a deadly pandemic. Do the right thing.
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) November 8, 2020
Hey Emily Murphy, it's time for you to DO YOUR JOB, recognize Joe Biden is your President, and make those transition funds available.
Shame her, America.
👉@GSAEmily👈 pic.twitter.com/pfkgxEJx3Z
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) November 9, 2020
As recently as Monday, the Trump campaign continues to falsely claim that widespread voter fraud tipped the election to Biden.