The meeting of the men of the Oval Office is the first presidential transition session since the former president Barack Obama invited Trump to the White House in 2016 after his victory against then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Trump did not invite Biden in 2020 despite contesting that election before the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

The two-hour meeting began at 11:07 a.m., with Biden congratulating Trump on his victory in the 2024 election and saying he hoped to “have a smooth transition.”

“Politics is tough and in many cases the world is not beautiful, but it is a beautiful world today,” Trump said Wednesday. “It will be as smooth as possible and I really appreciate that, Joe.”

Biden replied: “You’re welcome. »

The White House previewed this week’s meeting by reiterating that it is important for Biden to sit down with Trump because Biden believes in “norms,” ​​”institutions” and “order,” though that he described Trump as a threat to democracy and, as recently as last month, Biden aides agree with Trump’s former White House chief of staff John KellyThe claim that Trump fits the definition of a fascist.

“The American people deserve this, they deserve a peaceful transfer of power,” the White House press secretary said. Karine Jean Pierre told reporters Tuesday. “The chief of staff (of the White House) Jeff Zients has been quite open and available to the Trump transition team and will continue to do so. We want this to go well. We want it to be a process that gets the job done. And for sure, we are going to do everything we can.

Zients led the White House transition coordination committee with the Trump transition team, led by former Trump. Small Business Administration Director Linda McMahon and Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, in addition to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, Donald Trump Jr.And Eric Trump. Zients and the new White House chief of staff Susie Wiles were at Wednesday’s meeting.

Although Biden and Trump have resumed the tradition of meeting, the first lady Jill Biden and former first lady Melania Trump this is not the case, the latter refusing the former’s invitation to take tea.

“The Bidens extended their congratulations and jointly invited the Trumps to meet at the White House,” a spokesperson for the First Lady said. Washington Examiner.

Spokeswoman Jill Biden added: “The first lady joined President Biden in greeting President-elect Trump upon his arrival at the White House this morning. She presented Mr. Trump with a handwritten letter of congratulations for Mrs. Trump, in which she also expressed her team’s willingness to help with the transition.”

Melania Trump’s office confirmed Wednesday that she would not travel to Washington with her husband, but did not provide reasons.

Reports circulated last weekend that Melania Trump had a contradictory book tour and remained angry at the FBI after agents executed a search warrant at the Trumps’ private home Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in 2022 as part of a federal investigation into whether the former president mishandled classified documents. Melania Trump is not expected to return to Washington full time. Instead, she should divide her time between Florida And new YorkOr Barron Trumpher only son with Donald Trump, will go to college.

After winning last week’s election against Vice President Kamala HarrisTrump quickly named his co-campaign manager Wiles as his White House chief of staff. This week, Trump nominated Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) to be his national security advisorFox News host Pete Hegseth to be his defense secretarygovernor. Kristi Noem (R-SD) to become Secretary of Homeland Security and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe be CIA director. There are rumors that the president-elect will appoint the senator. Marco Rubio (R-FL) be secretary of state. He has not yet announced his candidate for cash secretary.

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Trump also said entrepreneurs Elon Musk And Vivek Ramaswamy would spearhead a new department called the Department of Government Effectiveness.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump met at the Capitol with House Republicans and the President. Mike Johnson (R-LA) to lead the House again.