Isolated and facing an impeachment trial, Trump is dedicating his last days to spoiling Biden's inauguration
- President Donald Trump seems determined to be the center of attention in his final few days in office.
- Since the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, Trump has lost many allies and faces an unprecedented second impeachment trial.
- But until noon on Wednesday, Trump retains the vast powers of his office — and seems intent on using them.
- The logistics of his final hours in office, which have emerged in leaks, seem tailor-made to compete for attention with President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.
- Trump is also said to be planning a last-minute spree of pardons, which he can issue unilaterally and would spawn another chaotic news cycle.
Back in 2009, President George W. Bush invited President-elect Barack Obama to meet all three of their living predecessors for lunch at the White House.
The former presidents - Jimmy Carter, George HW Bush, and Bill Clinton - put their political differences aside for a unique photo op to highlight their mutual goodwill and commitment to US democracy.
Twelve years on, it is a different story. President Donald Trump has refused to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden's win, stirring conspiracy theories about a vast plot to deprive him of a second term.
He is facing a second impeachment trial after encouraging rally attendees who went on to trash the US Capitol on January 6. Formerly steadfast political allies, such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and business leaders are abandoning him.
And, according to reports, Trump's final days in office are tailor-made to keep the spotlight on him at the expense of Biden, who is scheduled to take office at noon Wednesday.
Outlets including CNN and The Washington Post on Sunday reported that Trump was planning to issue about 100 more presidential pardons and commutations before leaving office. Observers have long speculated whether Trump will issue preemptive pardons for himself or his adult children.
Trump has said he will not attend Biden's inauguration, which is set to be held under unprecedented security following the Capitol riot.
Instead he plans to fly to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he is expected to land just ahead of Biden's inauguration ceremony, a photo op likely to drag attention away from Biden in real time.
Trump was previously thought to be planning an even more audacious Inauguration Day spectacle, having touted the idea of spending January 20 announcing his 2024 candidacy to a rally of supporters.
That plan appears to have faded from view, however, given his political struggles - if he is convicted in the coming Senate impeachment trial, Congress could move to bar him from all public office, disqualifying him from running again.
Out of office, Trump will have a far smaller megaphone, with his Twitter account still out of his hands and bans on other platforms.
The dynamic has put an ever starker time limit on Trump's ability to dominate the news cycle, but he seems determined to use the powers left to him while he can.