US president-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, longstanding political adversaries, engaged in a friendly discussion yesterday about Ukraine and the Middle East in a meeting aimed at showcasing a seamless transfer of power despite significant policy disagreements.
The two leaders sat together in front of a crackling fire in the Oval Office, presenting a serene image that concealed the underlying tensions between them.
“They covered essential national security and domestic policy matters affecting the nation and the globe,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters.
“It was indeed very cordial, very gracious, and substantive.”
Mr. Biden contended that supporting Ukraine was beneficial for US national security because a strong and stable Europe would prevent America from being drawn into conflicts, as stated by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in a press briefing.
Members of the media stood outside the West Wing as President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump convened in the Oval Office of the White House.
Mr. Trump has vowed to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict swiftly, though he has not clarified how he intends to achieve this.
Mr. Trump shared with the New York Post that he and Mr. Biden “discussed the Middle East extensively” during their meeting.
“I wanted to hear his perspectives on our current position,” the Post quoted Mr. Trump as saying. “He shared them with me, and he was very gracious.”
A Democrat, Mr. Biden triumphed over Mr. Trump in the 2020 election but withdrew from the 2024 race in July following an unfavorable debate against Mr. Trump, a Republican. Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the candidate but ultimately lost to Mr. Trump.
A smooth transition
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Both leaders emphasized the importance of a smooth transition of power.
“Looking forward to facilitating a smooth transition—doing everything we can to ensure you’re accommodated, whatever you require,” Mr. Biden told the president-elect. “Welcome, welcome back.”
Mr. Trump, set to assume office on January 20, remarked, “Politics can be tough, and often a rather unkind world, but today it feels nice, and I truly appreciate it—a transition that’s going to be as seamless as possible. And I greatly appreciate that, Joe.”
Reporters yelled out questions, but were asked to leave.
The two men iterated their commitment to a smooth transition of power.
The traditional gesture of welcoming the president-elect into the Oval Office was absent when Mr. Trump took office after Mr. Biden won in 2020.
Over the years, the two have exchanged criticism. Their respective teams maintain vastly differing stances on various issues, including climate change, relations with Russia, and trade.
Mr. Biden, 81, has depicted Mr. Trump as a threat to democracy, whereas Mr. Trump, 78, has characterized Mr. Biden as inept. Following the 2020 election defeat, Mr. Trump made unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.
During their meeting, Mr. Biden advocated for his priorities for Congress’ lame-duck session, which included government funding and additional disaster relief resources, according to Ms. Jean-Pierre.
Mr. Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients and Mr. Trump’s, Susie Wiles, were also present.
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First Lady Jill Biden accompanied Mr. Biden in welcoming Mr. Trump upon his arrival. The White House noted that she presented Mr. Trump with a handwritten letter of congratulations for his wife, Melania Trump, and conveyed her team’s readiness to aid in the transition.
Melania Trump’s office stated on X that she would not participate in the White House meeting. “Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to initiate the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success,” it remarked.
Earlier that day, Mr. Trump celebrated his electoral success with House Republicans. Edison Research indicated that Republicans would hold a majority in the House, implying that Mr. Trump’s party would oversee both chambers of Congress.
Donald Trump celebrated his victory earlier in the day with House Republicans.
“Isn’t it wonderful to win? It’s great to win. It’s always delightful to come out on top,” Mr. Trump stated. “The House performed exceptionally well.”
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk joined Mr. Trump at the gathering with Republican lawmakers.
Transition efforts partially delayed
Despite the display of camaraderie, the transition process has encountered some setbacks.
Mr. Trump’s team, which has announced several appointees for the incoming president’s cabinet, has yet to finalize agreements concerning office space, government equipment, and access to government officials, facilities, and information, as mentioned by the White House.
“The Trump-Vance transition attorneys continue to engage constructively with the Biden-Harris Administration lawyers regarding all agreements outlined by the Presidential Transition Act,” stated Brian Vance, a spokesperson for Mr. Trump’s transition team, referencing the legislation that governs the transfer of power.
Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition, a non-profit organization advising incoming administrations, emphasized that the agreement highlights the fact that the US has only one president at a time and includes commitments to sign ethics agreements prohibiting profiting from information obtained during the transition.
“That agreement must be signed for interaction with federal agencies to commence,” she noted. “Everything hinges on that.”
This meeting marked the first substantial interaction between the two since their debate in June. Mr. Biden, Mr. Trump, and Ms. Harris also appeared together in New York on September 11, commemorating the site of the 2001 plane attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.
