President Joe Biden hosted President-elect Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to kick off a hoped-for smooth transition of power following a contentious election that culminated in Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Video footage shows the initial part of the meeting with the two men seated near a fireplace. They shook hands as Biden expressed his desire to facilitate a peaceful handover of power. “Well, Mr. President-elect and former President, Donald, congratulations,” Biden said.
“Looking forward to having, like we said, smooth transition. Do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, what you need. We’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today.”
Trump responded, thanking President Biden. “Politics is tough…in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today,” he said, promising “a transition that’s so smooth, it’ll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate it.”
This meeting marks Trump’s first visit to the White House since he left office in January 2021 after another contentious election. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the meeting exemplifies the president’s respect for democratic norms. “It is important not just because it’s important to him, but it’s important to the American people,” she told ABC News. “The American people deserve this. They deserve a peaceful transfer of power. They deserve a smooth transition. And that’s what you’re going to see.”
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The meeting marks Trump’s first visit to the White House since leaving office in January 2021 under contentious circumstances, having broken the tradition of inviting his successor, then-President-elect Biden, to the White House. Additionally, Trump notably skipped Biden’s inauguration.
First Lady Jill Biden was also present, welcoming Trump and giving him a handwritten letter to give to Melania Trump, who did not attend the meeting.
The president-elect also met Wednesday with House Republicans near the Capitol building. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed enthusiasm at Trump’s return to the White House. “It is a new day in America,” he declared. He said the GOP is “ready to begin delivering on Trump’s agenda on Day 1 of his administration.”
The president-elect has been gradually announcing his nominees for cabinet positions in his administration. These include Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, Kristi Noem for the Department of Homeland Security, Susie Wiles as chief of staff, and several others.