President-elect Donald Trump returned to the White House on Wednesday for the first time since his election victory and met with President Joe Biden to discuss the upcoming transition of power.
"Welcome, welcome back," Biden greeted Trump as they began their meeting in front of a roaring fireplace, pledging a smooth transition and offering to ensure Trump’s needs were met.
"It'll be as smooth as it can get," Trump responded, marking a stark contrast to their long-standing political rivalry. The two men have clashed on numerous issues, from climate change to trade, with Biden calling Trump a threat to democracy, while Trump has labeled Biden as ineffective. Trump also falsely claimed widespread fraud after losing the 2020 election to Biden.
Trump arrived in a motorcade through the White House’s heavily secured gates, where Biden, who defeated him in the 2020 election, greeted the former Republican president in the Oval Office. A large group of journalists gathered outside in anticipation of the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Trump celebrated his victory with Republican House members, expressing confidence that they would retain control of the chamber as the results from the November 5 elections continued to come in. "Isn't it nice to win? It's nice to win. It's always nice to win," he remarked, praising the House’s performance.
Biden, who originally ran against Trump in 2024 but later withdrew and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, extended a traditional gesture of welcoming the incoming president into the Oval Office—something Trump did not do when Biden won in 2020.
"He believes in the norms, he believes in our institution, he believes in the peaceful transfer of power," said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre regarding Biden’s decision to meet with Trump.
Signs of the impending transition were visible outside the White House, with preparations already underway for the VIP stands for the inauguration parade on January 20, though the transition process itself remains partially stalled.
