Trump's Busy Workday Amid Ongoing Protests; He Adjusts His Tone

On Friday, Donald Trump praised his opponents for their national pride, having previously referred to them as "professional protesters" incited by the media. Reports indicate that he had a "busy" day for cabinet formation. In a tweet early on Friday, November 11, the President-elect of the United States stated, "I love the fact that small groups of protesters showed their feelings for their great country last night. We will be together and proud." On Thursday night, he tweeted, "We had a fair and successful election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. This is unfair!" The majority of peaceful protests occurred in at least eight cities across the country following Trump's announcement as the winning candidate in the November 8 election. Opponents are concerned that Trump will undermine American civil rights. Protesters pointed to his views during the campaign regarding immigrants, Muslims, women, and other ethnic minorities, along with endorsements from the Ku Klux Klan and other extremist white groups, which could incite violence against minorities. Trump protesters in the East took to the streets for the second consecutive night in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, while in the West, they marched in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Portland, and Oregon. According to CNN, police arrested 185 people in Los Angeles alone. After Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, conceded the election to her Republican rival on Wednesday, Trump moderated his tone compared to his campaign rhetoric, stating that he would be the president for all Americans. Trump's campaign had previously rejected support from the Ku Klux Klan, stating that he "condemns hatred in any form." However, civil rights groups and police reported several attacks by individuals identifying as Trump supporters against minority groups. Reuters reports that more protests are planned for the weekend, with Trump's inauguration set for January 20. Thursday night's protests were smaller than Wednesday's, with most participants being teenagers and young adults. Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, stated on Friday that the competition between Trump and Clinton was very intense, but Trump protesters must accept the election results. He cited Trump's call for unity and his meeting with Barack Obama, the President of the United States, and Republican leaders as reasons for confidence about the future. On Friday, Trump tweeted about a "busy day" for forming his cabinet but did not provide details. While in his tower in New York City, he held a meeting with senior staff members early Friday. He tweeted that he had a "busy day in New York" and added, "Very soon, some very important decisions will be made regarding those who will be in the government." According to the Associated Press, his staff has not released any information about the President-elect's plans for the coming days. Trump broke tradition on Thursday by not allowing a group of reporters covering presidential news to accompany him to his meeting with Barack Obama. In another development, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, called reports that the social network influenced the outcome of the U.S. presidential election "ridiculous." According to the Associated Press, Facebook has been accused by critics of spreading misinformation by allowing the sharing and re-sharing of fake news.