Trump acknowledges Biden administration for first time but asks Supreme Court to throw out election over Hunter ‘scandal’

President says new government would be ‘scandal plagued mess for years to come’

Donald Trump has acknowledged the Joe Biden administration for the first time, while asking the Supreme Court should overturn the 2020 election due to the Hunter Biden “scandal”.

In an angry rant on Twitter, Mr Trump acknowledged the Biden Administration for the first time on the platform amid his refusal to concede, having filed a slew of legal challenges to the election baselessly citing voter fraud.

However, he quickly undermined the characterisation by saying the administration would be a “scandal plagued mess”, seemingly referring to the federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs.

“Now that the Biden Administration will be a scandal plagued mess for years to come, it is much easier for the Supreme Court of the United States to follow the Constitution and do what everybody knows has to be done,” Mr Trump tweeted.

“They must show great Courage & Wisdom. Save the USA!!!”

The president has until now refrained from directly acknowledging the incoming administration and seemingly stopped himself from doing so during a White House press briefing in November.

"Ideally, we won't go to a lockdown. I will not go – this administration will not be going to a lockdown," he said in his first remarks since news networks announced Mr Biden as the winner of the election.

"Hopefully the – whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration will be."

His latest comments come after Texas, joined by 17 other red states, filed a longshot Supreme Court lawsuit to try and overturn Donald Trump’s election defeat in the four key battleground states won by Mr Biden.

The president and his allies have lost dozens of lawsuits against the election across the country, having provided no substantial evidence of widespread fraud.

It remains unknown when the Supreme Court will consider what action to take on the case.

In the tweet, the president wrongly said that the news of an investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax affairs would make it “easier” for the Supreme Court to use its power to award him a second term.

Regarding the investigation, Hunter Biden said: “I learned yesterday for the first time that the US Attorney’s Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs.

“I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors.”

Hunter Biden has often been at the centre of a number of efforts by Trump allies to undermine Joe Biden’s bid for presidency in the run up to the election, focusing on Mr Biden’s connections with Ukraine.