President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump briefly met with press in the Oval Office to discuss the “smooth transition” of power ahead.
Biden told the president-elect, “Welcome back,” and that he’s “looking forward” to a “smooth transition.” He promised Trump that he would “do everything that we can to make sure you’re accommodated.”
Trump responded, “Cool,” and then agreed that the “transition will be so smooth.”
“Politics is tough, and in many cases, it’s in many not a nice world, but it is a nice world today. I appreciate it very much,” Trump said. “The transition will be so smooth. It’ll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate it.”
The two politicians shook hands as they were seated before a blazing fire in the Oval Office.
President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump shake hands at their White House meeting, as Biden says he is looking forward to “a smooth transition.”
“Politics is tough, and it’s in many cases not a very nice world,” Trump says. “But it is a nice world today.”… pic.twitter.com/j9wc4tgrBr
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 13, 2024
Former President Barack Obama held a similar meeting with Trump in 2016. Trump, however, did not invite Biden to join the tradition in 2020 after claiming the election was stolen from him.
Trump has still not submitted a series of transition agreements with the Biden administration. The president-elect’s team missed some deadlines before Election Day to unlock transition work with the Biden administration.
First Lady Jill Biden joined her husband in greeting Trump upon his arrival at the White House Tuesday morning. She gave Trump a handwritten letter of congratulations to pass on to his wife, Melania Trump. The letter also expressed Dr. Biden’s team’s readiness to assist with the transition.
Melania Trump’s office released a statement earlier Wednesday announcing that she would not attend today’s meeting at the White House.
AFP/Getty Images
“Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success,” the post read.
The statement also warned the public to “be discerning with your source of news” as “several unnamed sources in the media” had provided “false, misleading, and inaccurate information” about the incoming first lady’s potential visit.
Trump met with Biden after his address to the House Republican conference. He called it a “very nice gathering.”
“Isn’t it nice to win?” Trump asked the room. “It’s always nice to win.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced Trump. Representatives Elise Stefanik—recently announced as Trump’s choice as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations—Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer and Richard Hudson were also on stage.
As the press was led out of the room, Trump said, “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s so good, we’ve got to figure something else.'”
Update 11/13/24, 12:10 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
