US president-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have met for the primary time since Trump gained again the White Home final week and each males promised a easy switch of energy in January.
The 2 leaders sat facet by facet earlier than a roaring fireplace within the Oval Workplace, a peaceable scene that belied tensions between them.
Biden defeated Trump within the 2020 election however dropped out of the 2024 race in July after a disastrous debate with the Republican Trump.
He handed his candidacy to Vice President Kamala Harris, who misplaced the election.
“We’re wanting ahead to having, like we mentioned, a easy transition, do every part we will to be sure you’re accommodated, what you want,” Biden mentioned.
“Politics is hard, and it is many instances not a really good world, however it’s a good world immediately and I recognize very a lot a transition that is so easy it’s going to be as easy as it could actually get and I very a lot recognize that, Joe,” mentioned Trump, who takes over on 20 January.
Reporters shouted questions however have been rapidly ushered out.
No points separating the 2 males of their dialogue
It was a pointy distinction to the criticism the 2 males have hurled at one another for years.
Their respective groups maintain vastly totally different positions on insurance policies from local weather change to Russia to commerce.
Biden, 81, has portrayed Trump as a menace to democracy whereas Trump, 78, has portrayed Biden as incompetent.
Members of the press collect exterior the West Wing of the White Home in Washington, earlier than President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump within the Oval Workplace. Supply: AP / Susan Walsh
Trump made claims of widespread fraud within the 2020 election regardless that his personal legal professional common, recounts and investigations discovered no proof of that.
Trump’s motorcade rolled via the closely guarded White Home gate and the previous and future Republican president was greeted within the Oval Workplace by Biden, a Democrat who defeated him within the 2020 election.
Outdoors on the White Home driveway, a large crowd of journalists gathered in anticipation of the massive occasion.
Donald Trump celebrates victory with Republican allies earlier than assembly with Biden
Trump celebrated his victory earlier within the day with Republicans within the Home of Representatives who’ve a superb probability of sustaining management of the chamber as November 5 election outcomes trickle in.
“Is not it good to win? It is good to win. It is at all times good to win,” Trump mentioned.
“The Home did very properly.”
Outdoors the White Home gates, indicators of the approaching energy switch have been evident with development already beneath means for the stands for VIP company to sit down in the course of the parade that may happen after Trump is inaugurated.
Though Biden supposed to make use of the assembly to indicate continuity, the transition itself is partially stalled.
Trump’s group, which has already introduced some members of the incoming president’s cupboard, has but to signal agreements that will result in workplace area and authorities gear in addition to entry to authorities officers, services and knowledge, in line with the White Home.
“The Trump-Vance transition legal professionals proceed to constructively interact with the Biden-Harris Administration legal professionals concerning all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act,” mentioned Brian Vance, a spokesman for the Trump transition, referring to the legislation that governs the switch of energy.
