Trump’s billionaire friend and donor backs Biden transition team and calls him president-elect

Ronald S Lauder joins growing list of pro-Republican figures to accept presidential election result

Donald Trump’s longtime friend Ronald S Lauder has called Joe Biden the “President-elect” and praised his appointment of Antony J Blinken to serve as US secretary of state.

On Sunday, the billionaire, who serves as the World Jewish Congress president, released a statement praising the appointment of the longtime diplomat to Mr Biden’s transition team.

“In nominating my friend Tony Blinken to serve as America’s chief diplomat, President-elect Biden has selected a man of profound integrity, unflinching moral clarity, and deep command of the complex challenges facing our nation on the global stage.

“He particularly understands the poison of antisemitism and will fight it with determination and focus.”

He added: “On behalf of world Jewry, I congratulate Tony on his nomination and look forward to partnering with him on all issues of importance to the Jewish community.”

Mr Lauder, the heir to the Estée Lauder Companies, studied with President Trump at the University of Pennsylvania, and the pair have remained friends since, according to Forbes.

The 76-year-old, who has supported the Republican Party for decades, donated at least $200,000 (£149,509) between 2017 and 2019 to Trump Victory, a committee that supported the president and the Republican National Committee.

In total, the billionaire has donated more than $1.6m (£1.19m) to pro-Trump organisations since Mr Trump’s election victory in 2016, according to AdAge.

Mr Lauder also publicly praised Mr Trump in 2018, calling him “a man of incredible insight and intelligence.”

With his comments on Sunday, Mr Lauder has joined the growing list of pro-Trump figures to recognise Mr Biden as the President-elect, despite Mr Trump repeatedly refusing to concede the election.

President Trump has claimed without evidence that widespread voter fraud took place, and has filed lawsuits in multiple swing states that were called for Mr Biden, pressing state and local authorities not to certify the election results.

Five Republican senators, alongside more than 10 GOP representatives, have congratulated Mr Biden on winning the 2020 election, while prominent Trump ally and former Republican governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, has criticised the actions of the president’s legal team.

He said: “What’s happened here, quite frankly, the conduct of the president’s legal team has been a national embarrassment.”

However, President Trump seemed to soften his stance on Monday evening, as he accepted that a formal transition for Mr Biden to take office should begin.

After the General Services Administration acknowledged Mr Biden as the “apparent winner” of 3 November’s presidential election, Mr Trump said that the agency must “do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols”.

However, Mr Trump still did not concede the election, saying: “Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!”