In Washington, President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden both expressed their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition between administrations during a White House meeting on Wednesday morning.
"I look forward to a smooth transition," President Biden said, as cameras and reporters were briefly allowed in the Oval Office. "We’ll do everything we can to make sure you have what you need."
Trump, speaking next, acknowledged the challenges of politics but emphasized the positive tone of the meeting. "Politics is tough, and in many cases, it’s not always a pleasant world, but today it is a nice world," he said. "I appreciate the transition, which has been very smooth. It will be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that."
Trump’s return to the White House came just over a week after his decisive victory in the 2024 election. The meeting marked his first visit back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in nearly four years, following an invitation from Biden, whom Trump had defeated in the race.
Despite tension between the two leaders, Biden, known for his respect for tradition, has been keen to ensure an orderly transition between administrations. The nearly two-hour meeting, which began around 11 a.m. ET, marked a symbolic return to the long-standing tradition of incoming and outgoing presidents meeting before the changeover.
"President Biden’s decision to welcome President-elect Trump to the White House is a tribute to normalcy in the presidential transition process," said Wayne Lesperance, a veteran political scientist and president of New England College in New Hampshire. "What was denied to Joe Biden following his election is being restored to Biden's credit," Lesperance continued, calling the invitation a "remarkable gesture" that "legitimizes Trump’s return to power."
The meeting was the first between Biden and Trump since their lone debate on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia. Although the tradition of an incoming and outgoing president meeting is not mandated, it is considered an important part of the peaceful transfer of power.
