DT's double-talk came Monday when he announced he'd given the green light to the General Services Administration to bring Biden's team into the fold. "We are still bullish in the longer term as the interest rate conditions" and the time it takes for vaccines to be rolled out will support gold, he said.

"Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good. fight, and I believe we will prevail!" It also means Biden's camp will receive millions in taxpayer funds to make the transition happen.

And the Pennsylvania Supreme Court turned back another Trump challenge Monday over counting mailed votes where the ballots were not completed perfectly.

The news about Murphy's move, it should be noted, was reported before Trump tweeted about it.

Trump said on Twitter that he had given Emily Murphy, the head of the Government Services Administration, the go-ahead to "do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols".

President-elect Joe Biden's response to the formal announcement that the presidential transition process will begin hinted at how anxious his team is about the state they will find the federal government in.

Critics have said Trump's refusal to accept the results and approve the transition of power to Biden undermined US democracy and undercut the incoming administration's ability to combat the intensifying coronavirus pandemic that has killed about 258,000 Americans and left millions more without jobs. "The actual victor of the presidential election will be determined by the electoral process detailed in the Constitution".

Trump and his allies continue to challenge the outcome of the Pennsylvania vote, despite numerous court defeats and what legal experts have said is a lack of evidence needed to invalidate votes.

The now formalized transition and Michigan's certification of Biden's victory could prompt more Republicans to encourage Trump to concede as his chances of overturning the results fade.

Murphy, a Trump-appointee who had earlier blocked the process, also sent Biden a letter recognising him as the victor.

Murphy's decision came after a series of defeats for Trump's campaign, including the certification of results in MI.

Ms Murphy had been under vast pressure to authorise president-elect Joe Biden, with Republicans, national security experts and business leaders all having called for that process to move forward.

However, the outgoing US President is still challenging the results of the election, describing it as "corrupt".

The unanimous action by the seven nonpartisan justices sends to Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak results that will deliver six electoral votes from the western US battleground state to Biden.

Retiring Tennessee senator Lamar Alexander, who had repeatedly called for the transition to begin, released a new statement saying Mr Trump should "put the country first" and help Mr Biden's administration succeed. John Kerry, a former U.S. senator, secretary of state and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, will serve as Biden's special climate envoy.

And with a roster that includes multiple women and people of colour - some of whom are breaking historic barriers in their posts - Biden is fulfilling his campaign promise to lead a team that reflects the diversity of America.