Washington began its transition of power Wednesday as the ascendancy of President-elect Donald Trump promised a seismic shift in nearly every facet of the capital city, from military and executive agencies to federal courts and financial and political establishments.

President Obama, who had denounced Trump as unfit to serve as commander in chief, struck a conciliatory note in the Rose Garden of the White House, vowing to work with his successor to ensure a peaceful transfer. The two men, who spoke by phone early Wednesday morning, plan to meet Thursday.

Claiming an electoral mandate after maintaining majorities in both chambers of Congress, Trump’s resurgent Republican Party planned an aggressive and sweeping program to systematically dismantle Obama’s policies and to usher in a new era of conservative governance.

For the GOP, there were signs of unity after a season of acrimony brought by Trump’s divisive candidacy, which antagonised party leaders.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), who had all but abandoned the presidential nominee in the final weeks of the campaign, pledged that he and Trump would “work hand-in-hand on a positive agenda to tackle this country’s big challenges.”

Loading....

“Now is the time to shake the Earth,” said William J. Bennett, a Trump ally and former education secretary in Ronald Reagan’s Cabinet. “Anything is possible.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that Trump could “unilaterally” unravel Obama’s legacy early next year - starting with the Affordable Care Act, the president’s signature healthcare accomplishment.

But, McConnell said, “I think it’s always a mistake to misread your mandate, and frequently new majorities think it’s going to be forever. Nothing is forever in this country... We’ve been given a temporary lease on power, if you will. And I think we need to use it responsibly.”

One key relationship for Trump could be the one with Sen. Charles E. Schumer, who is expected to become the Senate Democratic leader in January.

“Is he going to reach out to build a Trump majority which will include Democrats, whether it’s in the Cabinet or the essential relationship with Schumer, who he’s known for many, many years?” asked former House speaker Newt Gingrich, an adviser to Trump and a potential appointee in the new administration.

“He is positioned to be the president of a very large coalition - and that coalition is bigger than the Republican Party,” he continued. “He has to think through, ‘How do you operationalise that at a practical level that works?’”

Trump called Schumer on Wednesday, and the senator congratulated him. “It is time for the country to come together and heal the bitter wounds from the campaign,” Schumer said in a statement.

In New York, Trump confronted the urgent task not only of uniting a fractured nation but also of forming a government. The celebrity businessman, who has never before held public office, met at Trump Tower with Vice President-elect Mike Pence and their advisers and contemplated the makeup of his White House and Cabinet, as well as what he would do following his January 20 inauguration.

A transition team chaired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has been working in Washington since the summer to lay the groundwork for a Trump administration. The group has been run by Rich Bagger, a longtime Christie adviser; William Hagerty, a key player on 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s transition team; and other establishment hands.

Michael O. Leavitt, a former Utah governor and health secretary in President George W. Bush’s Cabinet who was Romney’s transition chairman, has been informally advising the Trump team.

Something Trump must contemplate is how transformative his initial plans might be.

“Does he want to recruit people to manage the federal government or to change the federal government?” Gingrich said. “They’re very different job descriptions... Do you go out and recruit people who’ve turned companies around and not just people who’ve managed companies? And do you set goals and metrics for them as change agents?”

Throughout his insurgent campaign, Trump has relied on a tight-knit cadre of aides and associates and has valued their loyalty above all else. Many of them are expected to join him in Washington.

Two leading candidates for White House chief of staff are believed to be Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman, and Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s first campaign manager who is now a paid commentator for CNN, according to two people familiar with the deliberations who requested anonymity because the talks are private.

Both Priebus and Lewandowski were at Trump Tower on Wednesday, as were RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer, policy adviser Stephen Miller, campaign chief executive Stephen K. Bannon and other advisers.

Priebus and Lewandowski would bring different attributes to the job. As party chairman for nearly six years, Priebus boasts deep ties with the GOP’s elected officials, donors and other luminaries, as well as a long friendship and shared Wisconsin roots with Ryan, which could prove helpful in managing relationships at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

US Election night in pictures Show all 24 1 /24 US Election night in pictures US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: People celebrate during the call for Republican president-elect Donald Trump at his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 9, 2016 in New York City. at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is joined by her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2016, the final day of campaigning before the election. REUTERS/Brian Snyder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters US Election night in pictures U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, talk to reporters on her campaign plane in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2016, the final day of campaigning before the election. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Reuters US Election night in pictures Democratic party nominee Hillary Clinton gives a speech from a stand bearing the US President seal during a rally on Independence Mall, November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. About 40,000 people flooded Independence Mall in Philadelphia for Hillary Clinton's rally with her husband Bill, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at her side, a campaign aide said. The attendance set a new record for Clinton, with the previous high point a rally in Ohio that drew 18,500 people, a campaign aide told reporters traveling with the candidate. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 07: U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a campaign rally on Independence Mall on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. With one day to go until election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 07: Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally on Independence Mall on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. With one day to go until election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures Supporters of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton watch results at her election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Reuters US Election night in pictures People watch elections returns during election night at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York on November 8, 2016. US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will hold her election night event at the convention center. / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: A man reacts as he watches voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures People watch elections returns during election night at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York on November 8, 2016. US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will hold her election night event at the convention center. / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People watch voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People react as they watch voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cheer during the election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cheer during the election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People cheer at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 09: People carrie a picture of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after a election watch event on November 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea. Counting process is underway and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States defeating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: A woman takes a selfie during Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures Supporters of Republican candidate Donald Trump, Stephanie Meza (L), 42, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Rhonda Davis (R), 63, of Scottsdale, Arizona cheer as election results come in during a viewing party at a hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona on November 8, 2016. Millions of Americans voted November 8th for their new leader in a historic election that will either elevate Democrat Hillary Clinton as their first woman president or hand power to maverick populist Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Laura SegallLAURA SEGALL/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Republican president-elect Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Republican president-elect Donald Trump walks on stage with his son Barron Trump, wife Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Vice president-elect Mike Pence and Republican president-elect Donald Trump shake hands during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures US President-elect Donald Trump greets wife Melania after speaking at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures US President-elect Donald Trump greets doughter Tiffany after speaking at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures Republican presidential elect Donald Trump (L) kisses his daughter Ivanka during election night at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 9, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images

Lewandowski would be a relative newcomer to the Washington power structure but has the trust and confidence of the president-elect, having mapped out the strategy for his improbable campaign and executed it during the primaries. Trump fired Lewandowski in June, though they have remained close, and Lewandowski is credited with helping guide Trump’s general-election campaign in New Hampshire.

“Corey Lewandowski is trying very, very hard to become the chief of staff,” said one Republican familiar with the talks about Trump’s appointments. “He’s been talking about it for months, preparing for months and lining up all the right people to get it done... Corey is saying it’s about loyalty. Nobody is more loyal.”

Trump’s orbit was abuzz Wednesday with speculation about which other loyalists might land jobs in the new administration.

Would Kellyanne Conway, a longtime pollster and communications guru who managed Trump’s campaign in the closing months and became a calming influence on the often-undisciplined candidate, be at his side in the West Wing?

Who would be the face of the White House in the press secretary role? Boris Epshteyn, a Trump surrogate who appeared frequently on cable television and anchored the campaign’s Facebook Live broadcasts? Jason Miller, the campaign’s senior communications adviser? Or Spicer, a more familiar face for the Washington press corps?

Where might Christie land, after risking his political reputation to become in February one of the first establishment figures to endorse Trump? And would his connection to the bridge-closing scandal, in which two of his former aides were recently convicted, stymie his chances at Senate confirmation for Cabinet posts such as attorney general or secretary of state?

Former New Jersey governor Thomas H. Kean (R), who has known Christie for decades, said Christie was certain to end up somewhere in the administration “because Trump values loyalty more than anything.”

William M. Daley, a former Obama White House chief of staff, said Trump should move slowly with making appointments and thoroughly vet his nominees. “Stumbles can be devastating and convey not being ready for prime time, which will be something they should be sensitive to,” he said.

Daley counseled the president-elect’s team to “say little and act in a deliberate way,” adding that the new administration must show that it is seasoned and can be trusted to handle a crisis. He noted Trump’s poor approval ratings and the fact that Clinton beat him in the national popular vote, despite losing in the electoral college.

“People will watch to see whether the new administration acts as though it has a mandate or looks at the fact that more people voted against him than for him as a brake on those who want revenge or want to jam ideas onto a skeptical people,” Daley said.

President Trump protests Show all 20 1 /20 President Trump protests President Trump protests Patrons hold a sign as people march by while protesting the election of Republican Donald Trump as the president of the United States in downtown Los Angeles, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators rally following the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators march following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests Thousands of protesters rallied across the United States expressing shock and anger over Donald Trump's election, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency AFP/Getty Images President Trump protests Demonstrators protest outside the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois Getty President Trump protests A police officer aims a launcher after demonstrators threw projectiles toward a line of officers during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests An officer examines a vandalized police vehicle as demonstrators riot in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators take over the Hollywood 101 Freeway just north of Los Angeles City Hall in protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests A woman holds up a sign reading 'Trump you are an Idiot' as demonstrators gather during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump outside the City Hall building in Los Angeles, California EPA President Trump protests A masked demonstrator gestures toward a police line during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, near the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada Reuters President Trump protests Musician Lagy Gaga stages a protest against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on a sanitation truck outside Trump Tower in New York City Getty President Trump protests A woman yells as she takes part in a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A man dressed in red-white-and-blue sits on the curb during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trumpin Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests University of California, Davis students protest on campus in Davis, California, U.S. following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests An Oakland police officer checks out damage after a window was broken by protesters at a car dealership in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests A protester faces a police line in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests President-elect Donald Trumpís victory set off multiple protests AP President Trump protests A fire burns during protests in Oakland, Calif AP

Kenneth M. Duberstein, a former White House chief of staff to Reagan, said: “Twenty-four hours ago, you and others were writing that Hillary’s campaign was likely to succeed and we were in for four or eight more years of Obama. All that’s out the window now. You have at least the opportunity for the Republicans to demonstrate that they not only have a desire but an ability to govern smartly and get this country back on track.”

Leavitt said there were critical tasks for Trump beyond selecting senior White House aides and agency heads. He will be expected to craft a plan to turn his campaign priorities into legislative and executive actions; make initial contact with foreign leaders in an orderly and diplomatic way; and prepare to move his family to Washington.

“You’re going from campaigning to governance, and there’s a significant difference,” Leavitt said. “All of those are things that have to happen in 77 days [before the inauguration]. It’s a massive process.”

Patrick Caddell, a veteran pollster who is close to the Trump campaign, suggested that Trump “get away to Mar-a-Lago for a few days to rest and think” at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, before fully diving into transition activities.

“He’s got to think through how to translate a popular uprising and movement into governing,” Caddell said. “He’s got to make sure the people he hires understand why he’s there and aren’t only from the management class or people who know him.”