Editor's note: Bradley Blankenship is a Prague-based American journalist, political analyst and freelance reporter. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

U.S. President Donald Trump finally went as far as he probably will go in conceding in the 2020 presidential election by clearing the way for presumptive president-elect Joe Biden to smoothly transition to office.

On the evening of November 23, Trump gave the green light to the General Services Administration (GSA) to "do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols" and informed his team to do the same. This move will give Joe Biden much needed support in hitting the ground running with his administration.

An unprecedented series of issues loom for the new administration: the coronavirus resurgence, deepening economic hardship and pressing foreign policy issues. It seems that Trump realizes, despite his insatiable ego and cult-like following, that he will no longer be president very soon.

Despite exactly what this transition process means, Trump is still publicly maintaining that the election was stolen from him. This is now probably much more about appealing to his followers, staying relevant and securing post-presidential employment in a way that is totally on-brand. 

He doubled down on Twitter after the media picked up on his announcement by saying, "What does GSA being allowed to preliminarily work with the Dems have to do with continuing to pursue our various cases on what will go down as the most corrupt election in American political history? We are moving full speed ahead. Will never concede to fake ballots & 'Dominion'."

But there is no full speed ahead for these cases, the Trump team has already had several dozen thrown out and judges across the country have scorched many on their clear lack of merit. 

The Trump legal team also just had to distance itself from Sidney Powell, an attorney who presented a wild conspiracy theory that former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has been dead since 2013, and several other "communist" actors orchestrated a conspiracy against Trump. Powell's accusation, which was made without any evidence, was presented during a press conference alongside Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer. 

"Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own. She is not a member of the Trump legal team. She is also not a lawyer for the president in his personal capacity," Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, another Trump lawyer, said in a statement on Sunday. 

Privately, Trump is very much acknowledging his defeat. According to the Washington Post, he's looking for ways to make money and stay relevant – paid speeches to corporate groups, holding rallies, eyeing his own media company and writing a memoir about his time in office. 

Trump already has businesses and he's certainly made new connections, so it can be naturally assumed that he would cash in on these opportunities, especially considering the hefty personal debt he owes – over $400 million and counting.

The president also allegedly told confidants that he may even announce his 2024 presidential campaign before the end of the year to lock out others who will be seeking the Republican Party's nomination, including Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.

According to a recent poll by Seven Letter Insight, two-thirds of Republican voters support the president running again in 2024 and a majority would like to see him stay active politically regardless.

Trump will undoubtedly be an omniscient political force for the Republican Party from here on out. But this may prove to be a very malign influence as he seeks self-serving vengeance in the interim instead of strengthening the party that had to accept him as their leader. 

After all, the Trump administration has long maintained that their mandate was hampered by the fact that the Democratic Party never accepted his victory. According to them, the Russiagate conspiracy, impeachment and other scandals fictitious or legitimate made the president's job much harder.

Had it not been for these things, Trump could have done much more in his four-year term, they believe, and he will probably turn this same attack against Biden and the Democratic Party for at least the next four years. 

To be sure, much of the media went overboard in attacking Trump over the very much debunked Russiagate scandal and there's no question that it did gum up his administration. But he was absolutely given a fair shot – 2016 Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton conceded on election night and former President Barack Obama immediately began the transition process, even meeting with Trump personally after the election. 

Trump's subtle admission of defeat is a step in the right direction even if it took longer than needed. But as the eyes of history peer back, he should go a step further by uniting the country on January 20 during the formal handoff of power even if it might be off-brand.

Trump should use his platform to aid the new government's coronavirus response rather than deride it because they will be dealing with an unprecedented set of challenges that transcend party lines.

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