Washington: On Tuesday, top advisers to U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump set aside their differences, for the most part, during a symbolic “passing of the torch” ceremony centered on national security issues. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, handed a ceremonial baton to U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz, Trump’s nominee for the same position, in a Washington tradition organized by the nonpartisan United States Institute of Peace since 2001.
The two men, typically seen defending opposing viewpoints on major issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and China, sought common ground during the event. It was designed to convey continuity of power in the United States, despite the political divide.
“It’s like a very strange, slightly awkward version of ‘The Dating Game,’ you know the old game where you wrote down your answer, and that person wrote down their answer, and you see how much they match up,” Sullivan said.
The event also served as a glimpse into what lies ahead as Trump prepares to be inaugurated on Monday. The peaceful transfer of power has been a hallmark of U.S. democracy for over two centuries, but this comes after Trump disputed his loss in the 2020 election and never formally conceded. Unlike four years ago, the two sides are now engaging in dialogue. At Biden’s request, Sullivan has briefed Waltz extensively on the current administration’s foreign policy, even though Waltz has indicated the Trump team will diverge significantly from it.
In the Middle East, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Biden’s envoy Brett McGurk are collaborating this week to finalize a ceasefire agreement concerning hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
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Both Waltz and Sullivan identified the California wildfires and China as key challenges for the incoming administration. Sullivan also emphasized the importance of a potential hostage deal and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Waltz, however, highlighted the U.S.-Mexico border as a critical issue, a topic on which Trump has frequently criticized Biden’s approach.
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While the cordial exchange between the two men touched on various global issues, Waltz offered a stark reminder of the difficult decisions that lie ahead in his new role. “Evil does exist,” he said. “Sometimes you just have to put bombs on foreheads.”
