US President Joe Biden meets with US President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on November 13, 2024. © Saul Loeb, AFP
By Smartencyclopedia News Desk with Agencies
Washington, D.C. — In a significant display of bipartisan tradition, President Joe Biden welcomed President-elect Donald Trump to the White House on Wednesday for a nearly two-hour meeting marking the official start of the transition of power. The encounter, described by the White House as “very cordial, very gracious, and substantive,” underscored Biden’s commitment to a peaceful transfer, despite tensions from Trump’s contested departure nearly four years ago.
Meeting in the Oval Office, Biden greeted Trump with a handshake and congratulatory words, saying he looked “forward to a smooth transition.” Trump expressed appreciation for the president’s hospitality, commenting, “Politics is tough. And it’s, in many cases, not a very nice world. But it is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much.”
In an interview with The New York Post after the meeting, Trump shared that the two discussed pressing global issues, including the war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. “I asked for his views, and he gave them to me,” Trump said, adding that Biden had been “very gracious” in sharing his perspectives on the Middle East.
The visit represents a return to Washington for Trump, who arrived with billionaire Elon Musk and was greeted by House Republicans before his session with Biden. Trump, who left office following the January 6 Capitol attack, remarked to lawmakers, “It’s nice to win,” alluding to his election comeback and the possibility of a unified Republican government.
Biden’s decision to uphold the tradition of an Oval Office meeting signals a marked departure from Trump’s approach in 2020, when he declined to invite then-president-elect Biden to the White House and skipped his inauguration, a break with 155 years of precedent.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized Biden’s dedication to a smooth transition, describing it as “the right thing to do for the American people.” The president has publicly softened his pre-election critiques of Trump, declaring last week, “The American experiment endures. We’re going to be okay.”
First Lady Jill Biden greeted Trump upon his arrival and presented a handwritten letter for Melania Trump, congratulating her and offering the first lady’s team’s support in the transition process. Although traditionally the first lady hosts her successor, Melania did not accompany Trump, sending a statement of support instead, saying, “Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success.”
As the nation witnesses this high-profile exchange of power, Biden’s commitment to a cooperative transition signals a reassuring step toward stability and continuity in American governance.