Washington (Web Desk): President-elect Donald Trump returned to the White House on Wednesday for the first time since securing his election victory.
In an unprecedented meeting, he sat down with his long-time political rival, President Joe Biden, to discuss the logistics of the upcoming transition.
"Welcome, welcome back," Biden greeted Trump as the two leaders met in the Oval Office, a roaring fire crackling in the background.
Biden assured Trump that his administration would do everything possible to facilitate a smooth handover of power. "I’ll make sure you're accommodated," Biden said, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining the traditions of a peaceful transfer of leadership.
"It'll be as smooth as it can get," Trump responded, signaling his readiness to navigate the transition.
This moment of civility stood in stark contrast to the years of sharp political discord between the two men.
Their respective administrations have taken starkly different positions on issues such as climate change, trade, and foreign policy. Biden has often described Trump as a threat to democracy, while Trump has regularly criticized Biden's competence, particularly following his loss in the 2020 election.
Trump’s motorcade made its way through the heavily fortified gates of the White House, arriving at the Oval Office where Biden awaited him.
Despite the decades-long rivalry between the two, the meeting was cordial, with the president-elect and sitting president exchanging pleasantries in front of a crowd of journalists eager to witness the historic moment.
Earlier in the day, Trump had celebrated his party’s successes with Republican lawmakers, expressing confidence that the House of Representatives would likely remain in GOP hands.
“Isn’t it nice to win? It’s nice to win. It’s always nice to win,” Trump said of the day’s victories, particularly in the House races. "The House did very well."
Meanwhile, Biden, who had originally campaigned for re-election in 2024 before stepping aside to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, made the rare gesture of inviting Trump to the White House.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre framed the invitation as a sign of Biden’s commitment to upholding American democratic norms.
“He believes in the norms, he believes in our institution, he believes in the peaceful transfer of power,” Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Outside the White House, signs of the transition were already apparent, with construction underway for VIP seating areas in preparation for the inauguration ceremony on January 20.
Despite the cordial atmosphere, some elements of the transition remain unresolved. While Biden has shown willingness to work with Trump’s team, certain formalities, such as the signing of transition agreements, are still pending.
The White House has indicated that without these agreements, the incoming administration will have limited access to federal agencies, officials, and necessary resources.
“The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris Administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act,” said Brian Vance, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team.
These agreements ensure that the new administration receives the necessary information and resources to take office smoothly.
Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition, highlighted the importance of these agreements.
"Everything is hinging on that,” she noted. “The United States only has one president at a time.”
The meeting between Biden and Trump also touched on a number of foreign policy issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.
While Biden has emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine as vital to US national security, Trump has called for an expedited end to the war, though he has not detailed his approach.
Trump, reflecting on their discussion, told the New York Post, “We talked very much about the Middle East. I wanted to know his views on where we are, and he was very gracious.”
Biden, for his part, reiterated his commitment to ensuring a seamless transition. "We're looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition, do everything we can to make sure you're accommodated, what you need," he said.
Trump also expressed gratitude for the collaborative spirit of the meeting.
"Politics is tough, and in many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate very much a transition that’s so smooth it’ll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe," Trump said.
Though the meeting was productive, the full implementation of transition plans has not yet occurred. Key elements, including the official signing of agreements between the two teams, remain crucial before full cooperation can begin.
In addition to foreign policy discussions, the ongoing negotiations between the two administrations will likely focus on the immediate challenges facing the country.
Biden's support for Ukraine and the ongoing conflict with Russia will be a central point of discussion in the weeks ahead, particularly as Trump has indicated his intention to take a different approach.
This meeting marks the first significant face-to-face encounter between the two men since their heated debate in June, which fueled concerns among Democrats about Biden’s age and readiness for re-election.
As a result, Biden stepped aside, endorsing Harris as the party's nominee, though she ultimately lost in the general election.
