US President-elect Donald Trump returned to the White House on Wednesday and met with outgoing President Joe Biden at the Oval Office, a week after the Republican leader’s spectacular victory in the November 5 election. This was Trump’s first visit to the White House following his 2020 election loss to Biden and his refusal to accept his defeat while claiming fraud.
At the start of the meeting, Biden welcomed Trump and both sat next to the roaring fireplace in the Oval Office. Biden told Trump that he would ensure a smooth and peaceful transfer of power and to do all he could “to make sure you’re accommodated”. To this, Trump replied, “It’ll be as smooth as it can get.”
Biden was once Trump’s rival until July before a disastrous debate performance against the Republican leader caused concerns among the Democrats over his mental fitness and age to serve a second term. Several Democratic leaders asked Biden to step aside. Biden subsequently gave in and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Wednesday’s pleasant exchange between Biden and Trump was a sharp contrast to the criticism the two leaders made at each other for years. During campaigning, Biden, 81, portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy, while Trump, 78, called Biden incompetent. Both their respective teams hold vastly different positions on policies from climate change to Russia to trade.
First Lady Jill Biden joined her husband and congratulated Trump on his victory. She handed him a letter of congratulations addressed to former First Lady Melania Trump, according to The Hill.
Trump’s motorcade rolled through the heavily guarded White House gate and the President-elect was greeted in the Oval Office by Biden.
Trump did not extend the same courtesy to Biden and invited him to the White House in 2020, a longstanding tradition, and alleged widespread fraud in his electoral loss.
Earlier on Tuesday, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre spoke about Biden’s decision to invite Trump, saying the 81-year-old President believes in a peaceful transfer of power. “He believes in the norms, he believes in our institution, he believes in the peaceful transfer of power,” she told reporters.
Outside the White House gates, signs of the impending power transfer were evident with construction already underway for the stands for VIP guests to sit during the parade that will take place after Trump takes oath on January 20, 2025.
Trump became the first President in over 130 years to win non-consecutive terms, defeating Harris and securing 312 electoral votes as opposed to the Vice President’s 226. He swept all the seven swing states, including Pennsylvania and Arizona. Trump won in 2016, defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
(with inputs from Reuters)