A Landscaping Company, A Sex Shop, and a Crematorium: The Beginning of the End of the Trump Era.

The election.

Yes, I know you’re probably tired of hearing about this. As a student of political science and history, even I am feeling a bit fatigued. This election season was fraught with hours-long early voting lines, mail-in ballots, and binge-watching CNN and MSNBC so much that I developed a slight crush on John King and Steve Kornacki. #MapDaddies.

The immense amount of relief I felt at the announcement of the projected Biden-Harris win was echoed throughout the streets of most major cities across the world. But, as with most things in 2020, we were unable to enjoy it completely. Not because we were breaking Covid-19 records once again — which is a complete tragedy that needs to re-dominate the news cycle. Not because hundreds of thousands of Americans are still unemployed with no relief package in sight — Mitch McConnel is an asshole. No, we were unable to fully enjoy the moment for one orange reason.

Donald Trump.

An entitled, spoiled, self-centered man-child, he did as anyone with a working brain cell expected. Threw a tantrum. As my son said, “He’s being petty.” A deluge of unverified, baseless claims spewed from his Twitter fingers and into the political and cultural atmosphere as soon as he heard the result from the safety of his golf course — big surprise.

In the past, a concession speech would be forthcoming for the loser of the election within a short amount of time. Not with forty-five. He is suing every swing state, whipping up his base, and bunkering down in the White House.

As I explained to friends and family that called for information, this isn’t normal. A smooth transition of power is essential for several reasons. It gives an appearance of stability within the nation. It conveys unity. But, most importantly, to have a seamless communication period for national security. Unfortunately, this won’t be happening with the Trump administration. If anything, they will make it even more difficult for everyone involved and do it spectacularly.

This leads us to the title of this article. On the morning of November 7th, after filing frivolous lawsuits, Trump announced that his legal team would hold a press conference at the Four Seasons. This announcement prompted the Four Seasons Philidelphia to quickly fire off a tweet clarifying that this press conference was not being held at their hotel. It was being held at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.

So, just as the Biden-Harris win was being projected, Donald Trump’s team was desperately trying to cling to power in a landscaping parking lot sandwiched between a sex shop and a crematorium. But are we really surprised?

This is an administration plagued by self-sabotage, ineptness, and a blatant lack of understanding or care of political processes and norms. The fact that they would hold this conference at the wrong Four Season is *chef’s kiss.* The icing on the cake, the fact that reporters were packing it up once they learned of the projected Biden-Harris win. What really filled my face with a Grinch-like grin was when Trump returned to the White House. It appears at first that he believed the crowd surrounding 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was there to stroke his ego. He quickly learned this wasn’t the case when everyone gave him the finger as his motorcade slowly trucked down the road. Cameras captured that moment as well as his dejected appearance as he shuffled into the White House. A White House that sits darkly isolated while the crowds surrounding cheer for the downfall of the man inside.

This is an important lesson for the Trump administration — a lesson that most students of politics know. In Washington, you’re only as relevant as your standing. Over the next seventy-plus days, the standing of everyone in the current administration will slowly decline. Fewer people will pay attention to them, world leaders will no longer hang on their every word, and political “allies” will slowly back away. Any former President will tell you that the days leading to the President-elect's upcoming inauguration are lonely and isolating.

But of course, this administration cares not for lessons, traditions, or norms. So, it is only fitting that the political career that started in a gaudy hotel ends the way it has spent the last four years. Centered between sex and death while standing next to piles of manure.

This article is an opinion piece by bestselling, award-nominated author Phoenix Williams for The AAMBC Journal.