President-elect Donald Trump met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday, eight days after Trump’s win over Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential election.
The two men were extremely cordial to each other at the start of their Oval Office meeting.
“Well, Mr. President-elect and former president, Donald, congratulations,” Biden said as the two shook hands in front of the press pool.
“Thank you very much,” Trump replied.
“I’m looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition. We’ll do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, [get] what you need. And we’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today,” the president said. “So, welcome. Welcome back.”
“Good. Thank you very much,” Trump responded. “Politics is tough and it’s, 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.”
Former President Barack Obama extended a similar courtesy to Trump, inviting him to a White House meeting after he beat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Trump did not offer a meeting to Biden after the president’s 2020 victory as he attempted to overturn his defeat.
