The role reversal neatly symbolised how power is draining from one man to the other. Biden, now a lame duck, appears to be in decline physically and politically, fading from America's national stage and tarnishing his legacy with a pardon for his errant son.
Trump, however, is already dominating the Washington agenda more than 40 days before he takes the oath of office.
He has grabbed attention with incendiary cabinet selections and policy pronouncements. He has begun flexing his muscles with world leaders. To many Americans, it feels like Trump is already president again.
"Biden's presidency is ending with a series of whimpers rather than a bang and it feels like he's shrinking into irrelevance as Trump is asserting himself," said Charlie Sykes, a conservative author and broadcaster. "If you're a foreign leader, you may talk to Biden out of politeness, but you're going to listen to Trump out of naked self-interest."
Since defeating Kamala Harris in last month's election, Trump has in effect set up a shadow presidency at Mar-a-Lago, his club in Florida.
His threat of 25% tariffs on foreign imports led the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, to rush to Mar-a-Lago with a promise of increased border security measures. Trump also said Mexico had agreed to close its border, a claim contradicted by the Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum.
Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for national security adviser, has credited Trump with bringing Israel and Lebanon to the negotiating table, though some political analysts have said there is no evidence he has had any direct involvement.
This story is from the December 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 09, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Maresca 'happy' but Chelsea streak ends
The immediate aim of the Friedkin Group is to restore stability to Everton after their takeover on Thursday. In some ways, Sean Dyche has beaten his new employers to it. High-flying Chelsea became the latest team to run into a royal blue wall and out of ideas as they lost valuable ground in the title race.
The Sphinx's plot Will new Royal Mail owner sell off valuable properties?
Will new Royal Mail owner sell off valuable properties?
Political football
Sport has shown me success is not about quick wins but collective effort
Usyk retains his class in and out of ring in beating Fury
Boxing is full of unsavoury people but it also produces extraordinary men such as the heavyweight champion
Time for the cackling disrupter to make his exit but there is no shame in losing to a true great
In the end everyone runs out of road. It was probably necessary for Tyson Fury to say he was robbed in the Kingdom Arena on Saturday night.
Theory of nothing earns Saints and Rusk worthy draw
It turns out it wasn't so hard after all. Southampton stopped giving the ball away in their own half, adopted an approach rooted in expediency and kept their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Semenyo shatters United to leave Amorim facing squall
After mid-morning wind and rain that might have caused Noah a problem, the skies cleared and Bournemouth took apart a Manchester United team as amateurish as any of the iterations of the past decade or so.
Burke helps Saracens show title ambitions
It was a cold, bleak midwinter afternoon in north London but the race to be crowned as England's top club side in 2025 is hotting up.
Pereira's Wolves reign gets off to flying start
It took less than 45 minutes of Vítor Pereira's Wolves tenure for the fans to sing his name as he witnessed his new side thrash Leicester.
Díaz and Salah double up in leaders' statement win
Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points, having played one game fewer than second-placed Chelsea, with the latest illustration of their remorseless cut and thrust under Arne Slot.
