Trump’s transition of power

Nov 10 President-elect Donald Trump and President Obama meet at White House, starting transition process unfolding over 10 weeks until Trump is sworn into office

Nov-Dec
Staffing up: Trump chooses White House staff, cabinet, and around 4,000 political appointments, with top 50 positions traditionally selected before Thanksgiving

Ensuring security: Trump now receives same daily intelligence briefing as President Obama, including information on covert U.S. operations and other data gathered by America’s 17 intelligence agencies

Transition team: Assembles cabinet and lays out blueprint for Trump’s first 100 days

Trump’s top advisers, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Alabama U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, guiding transition to power

Jan 20
Trump’s swearing-in ceremony takes place on steps of U.S. Capitol, when President Obama’s term officially expires

Nuclear codes: On Inauguration Day, America’s “nuclear briefcase” changes hands and President Trump receives “biscuit” – card with codes used to authenticate order to launch nuclear attack

Moving in: In frantic five-hour moving period, White House staff remove last belongings of Obama’s
family and prepare 132-room residence for Trump’s family

Once he is sworn in as president, Trump has freedom to redecorate Oval Office as he likes

Trump gains access to official presidential Twitter account @POTUS and White House website is relaunched at midnight

Source: Center for Presidential Transition, wire agencies 

Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images, Smithsonian Institute Magazine