President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump met in the Oval Office on Wednesday, shaking hands before reporters and news cameras. The two men took photos and spoke briefly, but did not respond to questions from reporters.
The ceremonial visit marked Trump’s first return to the White House since January 2021 when he left office. Biden extended the invitation last Wednesday after Trump’s election prior to his welcome a week later by Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
Promising Trump that his administration will accommodate the president-elect’s needs, Biden said: “Well Mr. President-elect and former president, Donald, congratulations, and looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition.Welcome, welcome back.”
Trump responded: “Thank you very much, and politics is tough, and it’s, many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate very much a transition that’s so smooth, it’ll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe.”
Per the White House, First lady Jill Biden joined the President in greeting Trump upon his arrival, giving him a handwritten letter of congratulations for Melania Trump. The first lady’s office confirmed that a joint invitation was extended to the Trumps to meet at the White House, but Mrs. Trump did not travel to Washington with her husband. Melania Trump’s office said in a statement: “her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success.”
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