How Will Donald Trump Govern?

3 minute read

If you only read one thing: Donald Trump ran his campaign against the Washington establishment, using the rallying cry “drain the swamp” in the final weeks. But the people shaping Trump’s administration are consummate insiders. From New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the transition chairman, to the heads of agency transition teams, Trump is relying on many of the same lobbyists and well-connected individuals he railed against just a week ago. Their impact on policy remains to be seen, but Trump’s transition website offers a glimpse at what he has planned, which is a conservative grab bag.

President Barack Obama welcomed President-Elect Trump to the White House Thursday, and their meeting was about as awkward as you might have expected. The 90-minute session concluded with the pair making brief statements of praise for the other. But White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said nothing has changed about the President’s opinion that Trump is unqualified to be his successor.

What conservatives want Trump to do. Zuckerberg rejects blame for Clinton defeat. And Trump enters the President’s Club.

Here are your must reads:

Must Reads

President Obama Welcomes Donald Trump as Newest Member of The Presidents Club

They may have been adversaries. But their White House summit follows a long tradition [TIME]

Trump Praises ‘Passion’ of Demonstrators After Second Night of Protests

Hours after initial tweet calling protests against his election “very unfair” [TIME]

White House Offers Details on Trump-Obama Meeting

The two men did not “recreate a presidential debate” in the Oval Office [TIME]

Insurgent Trump taps GOP insiders, lobbyists for transition

Veterans of two Bush administrations and Romney transition lay the groundwork for his presidency. [Politico]

Read the Conservative Wishlist for President-Elect Trump

It remains to be seen how much of it he’ll grant [TIME]

Sound Off

“I have been very encouraged by the, I think, interest in President-elect Trump’s wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces. And I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together, to deal with the many challenges that we face.” —President Barack Obama

“I very much look forward to dealing with the President in the future, including counsel.” —President-Elect Donald Trump after meeting with President Barack Obama

Bits and Bites

Zuckerberg: Fake News Didn’t Influence Election Results [Fortune]

Bernie Sanders Declines to Say Whether He Could’ve Beat Donald Trump [TIME]

Record Number of People Sign Up for Obamacare After Donald Trump Elected President [TIME]

Elizabeth Warren Promises to ‘Stand Up to Bigotry’ Under President Donald Trump [TIME]

So, What’s Happening in This Photo From the White House? [TIME]

Donald Trump and Britain’s Theresa May Affirm ‘Special Relationship’ [TIME]

Read President Obama and Donald Trump’s Remarks on Their White House Meeting [TIME]

Stephen Colbert Is Struggling to Accept Donald Trump as President: ‘This Sucks’ [TIME]

More Must-Reads from TIME

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