On January 20, the United States of America will have a new president in the White House. Donald Trump will officially enter the White House. Moving day is extremely painful, stressful, and wearying, and exhausting process. And moving in the White House is all that, times 100. Insiders of the White House describe the process as “well organized ballet choreography” and “military precision operation”. The trickiest part happens behind the scenes, and that is the physical changing of the White House. The staff has little less than six hours to move the former president out, and the new president in. So what happens in those six hours? Let’s try and explain the process.
Moving in starts at noon on inauguration day
The new president is not allowed to move into the new house until noon on inauguration day. Not a minute sooner. Because of that, presidential staff usually works on off-site locations to organize the process. Moving is systematical process, organized to the very last detail.
The presidential family covers the moving expenses
Few people know this, but the “first family” is responsible for moving all their subjects to the White House. The family coordinates with the government through private movers. When Obama was entering the White House, he covered the expenses for moving his private things from his home in Chicago to Washington. Once everything is at the White House, the staff takes over and unpacks everything. And all the unpacking has to occur in less than six hours. Staff is at the White House up to midnight sometimes to get it done on the first day.
Decoration of the Oval office is flexible
Once the president settles in, he can choose to completely redecorate the Oval office. Some of the changes include changing the art pieces on the walls, books on the shelves, and even the chairs. Everything in the Oval office can be subject of change to please the new president.
All photographs are replaced
In front of the presidential cabinet there is rotatory photo gallery with pictures of the president. These pictures include private pictures of the president, but also pictures with world leaders, associates, and partners. On Moving Day, all of the pictures are replaced. At the beginning, the new president puts pictures from the inauguration ceremony. And as he/she gets more photos, they are all placed in the rotatory photo gallery.
The President is at the inauguration
One of the perks of being a president on moving day is that everything happens in the background. While the staff is responsible for moving, the president spends his day at the inauguration ceremony. His chief of staff coordinates the moving. Of course, the chief of staff has previously discussed everything with the president. But on Moving Day, the President is either at the ceremony or watches the parade. In any case, he is outside of the White House.
First order of business: Planning a funeral
It might sound shocking and creepy, but one of the first assignments a president has is to plan his own funeral. This is required in case something happens to the president during his term. The staff has to be ready and prepared for the worst scenario.
New limo for the president
General Motors is working on the new limo from the moment the new president is elected. Again, the new limo should emphasize the character and wishes of the new president. The new presidential car should satisfy all the security measures known only to the secret service.
The president can have a new chef
It is only natural that the presidential and the White House staff changes with the arrival of a new president. In the first week of his term, the President can choose to change his chef, or go along with the existing chef. The first meal, for that matter, is usually on the first morning for breakfast.
