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.
