US president-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have met for the primary time since Trump gained the presidential election 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.
Biden handed his candidacy to vice chairman Kamala Harris, who misplaced the election.
“We’re trying ahead to having, like we mentioned, a easy transition, do every thing we are able to to ensure you’re accommodated, what you want,” he mentioned.
Trump, who takes over on 20 January, mentioned: “Politics is hard, and it is many instances not a really good world, however it’s a good world at the moment, and I admire very a lot a transition that is so easy it will be as easy as it might get and I very a lot admire that, Joe.”
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 completely 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.
The assembly occurred throughout president-elect Donald Trump’s first return to Washington DC since his election victory. Supply: AP / Susan Walsh
Trump made claims of widespread fraud within the 2020 election although his personal attorney-general, 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.
Exterior on the White Home driveway, an enormous crowd of journalists gathered in anticipation of the massive occasion.
Donald Trump celebrates win with Republican allies
Trump celebrated his victory earlier within the day with Republicans within the Home of Representatives, who’ve a great likelihood of sustaining management of the chamber because the 5 November 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 nicely.”
Exterior the White Home gates, indicators of the approaching energy switch have been evident with building already underway for the stands for VIP company to take a seat throughout 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, have but to signal agreements that might result in workplace area and authorities gear in addition to entry to authorities officers, services, and data, in keeping with the White Home.
“The Trump-Vance transition legal professionals proceed to constructively interact with the Biden-Harris Administration legal professionals relating to all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act,” mentioned Brian Vance, a spokesman for the Trump transition, referring to the regulation that governs the switch of energy.