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Trump and Biden Pledge Smooth Transition in Cordial White House Meeting: ‘Welcome Back’

President Donald J. Trump & President Joe Biden
Joe Biden and Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

In a rare moment of unity, President-elect Donald Trump met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday, marking an unexpectedly cordial reunion between the two longtime political rivals. The Oval Office encounter, filled with pleasantries, set a positive tone for the transition of power.

“Well, Mr. President-elect, and former President, Donald, congratulations,” Biden said warmly, adding that he was “looking forward to … a smooth transition.” Biden then welcomed Trump back to the White House with a smile, saying, “Welcome back.”

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Trump, in turn, reciprocated the goodwill. “Politics is tough, and in many cases, it’s not a very nice world,” Trump acknowledged. “But it is a nice world today, and I appreciate it very much. A transition that’s so smooth, it’ll be as smooth as it can get.”

The brief media session ended with reporters shouting questions at both presidents, who shared a knowing smirk as the room filled with noise. It was a rare moment of camaraderie between the two, who have sparred publicly for years.

Trump arrived at the White House following a triumphant meeting with House Republicans, where he celebrated the GOP’s recent electoral victories and expressed his full support for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). The meeting with Biden is a stark contrast to the often combative relationship the two men have had over the years.

Biden’s successful 2020 campaign was built largely on framing Trump as a threat to democracy. In the final stretch of the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris intensified those attacks, labeling Trump and his supporters as “fascists.” Despite the heated rhetoric, Biden’s campaign stumbled this summer after a lackluster debate performance against Trump highlighted concerns about his age and cognitive abilities. Biden eventually withdrew from the race, paving the way for Harris to become the Democratic nominee.

Trump’s victory against Harris was decisive. He swept all seven swing states and secured 312 electoral votes, marking a significant political comeback.

While it is customary for an outgoing president to welcome their successor at the White House, this meeting was historic. It marked the first time since Grover Cleveland defeated Benjamin Harrison in 1892 that an outgoing president has handed power back to a former president.

Though Biden and Trump upheld the tradition of a meeting between presidents, the same could not be said for their First Ladies. Melania Trump declined Jill Biden’s invitation to the traditional First Ladies’ tea, reportedly as a response to the Biden administration’s raid on Mar-a-Lago last year.

The encounter signals a rare moment of civility between the two political heavyweights, despite their often fiery relationship. With Trump’s return to power and Biden’s gracious acknowledgment of the outcome, the meeting sets a precedent for a smoother-than-expected transition. However, lingering tensions and the fallout from their previous clashes remain evident, especially as both parties prepare for what could be a turbulent new term.

As the transition process moves forward, the tone set by Wednesday’s meeting could help ease political tensions and provide a foundation for cooperation, at least in the early stages of Trump’s new administration. The willingness to put aside personal grievances, even temporarily, may offer a glimmer of hope for a less divisive political climate in the months ahead.

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