After the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump met with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, calling for a smooth transition. It seemed like a step in the right direction, especially compared to the chaos of four years earlier, when Trump incited a violent attack on the Capitol.
But as attorney Marc Elias points out, this quiet period might be more about Trump winning than a shift in his behavior. According to Elias, many feared that if Trump lost again in 2024, he would once again attack the electoral system—just like he did in 2020. The truth is, we may never know how bad it could’ve gotten. The peaceful transition we saw only happened because Trump won.
Elias warns that Trump’s “change in behavior” should not fool anyone. When Trump stops calling the media the “enemy of the people,” it’s not because he’s changed his ways—it’s because he feels the media is finally on his side. When he starts praising political opponents, it means they’re no longer a threat to him.
Looking ahead, Elias says we can expect Trump to push forward with his agenda—mirroring the Project 2025 policy goals. He will continue to spread false claims about the 2020 election and attack anyone who speaks out against him.
So, when Trump starts to praise his critics, that’s when we should worry. It’ll mean something has changed—and not for the better.
