Photo Credit: Getty Images
From a show statesmanship that stood in stark contrast to the bitterness of the 2024 presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden put their differences aside for a cordial meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
The two men, who had engaged in a heated and at times personal campaign, greeted each other warmly, shaking hands and exchanging kind words as they discussed the peaceful transition of power.
"It'll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate it, Joe," Trump, 78, told the 81-year-old Biden. "Politics is tough, and in many cases it's not a nice world, but it is a nice world today."
Biden reciprocated the sentiment, telling Trump "welcome back" before congratulating him on his election victory. "We're going to get a chance to talk about some of that today," Biden said. "So welcome, welcome back."
The meeting marked Trump's first visit to the White House since his surprise win over Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5th. Biden had invited Trump to the traditional post-election gathering, a gesture that stood in contrast to the former president's own refusal to meet with Biden in 2020 after losing his re-election bid.
In the lead-up to the sit-down, Trump addressed a group of jubilant House Republicans, joking that he "won't be running again unless you do something." He then traveled to the White House, bypassing the horde of journalists gathered outside in hopes of catching a glimpse of the former commander-in-chief.
First Lady Jill Biden also participated in the meeting, delivering a handwritten letter from her to Melania Trump. The current First Lady had extended an invitation for Melania to join her for the traditional post-election tea, but Melania declined, continuing a trend of frosty relations between the two women.
The warm exchange between Trump and Biden offered a glimmer of bipartisanship in a deeply divided Washington. It also provided a blueprint for a smooth transition of power, something that was sorely lacking four years ago.
"You're welcome," Biden said as he dismissed the assembled press, signaling an end to the public portion of the meeting. The two presidents then retired to continue their private discussions, leaving onlookers to wonder what other olive branches might be extended in the weeks ahead.
