President Joe Biden welcomed President-elect Donald Trump to the White House on Wednesday, November 13, for a nearly two-hour meeting, marking the first significant step in the transition of power following Trump’s recent election victory.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the meeting as “substantive,” noting that the two leaders discussed national security, domestic policy issues, and legislative priorities. At the start of the meeting, with reporters present, the two shook hands. “Mr. President-elect, Donald, congratulations,” Biden began. “Looking forward to a smooth transition.” He assured Trump that his administration would fully accommodate his team’s needs, adding, “Welcome, welcome back.”
Trump, in response, expressed appreciation for Biden’s cooperation. “Politics is tough, and it’s often not a very nice world, but today it’s a good one. I appreciate the smooth transition, Joe,” he said.
The last face-to-face encounter between Trump and Biden was at a presidential debate in June, where Biden’s campaign faltered after a series of gaffes. Their current meeting began shortly after 11 a.m. ET, with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in attendance.
This gathering follows a longstanding tradition where outgoing presidents meet their successors to discuss a smooth transfer of leadership. Notably, in 2020, Trump did not extend the same courtesy to Biden, as he disputed the election outcome and refused a formal handover.
With this meeting, both leaders have underscored their commitment to ensuring a seamless transition, a gesture aimed at setting a constructive tone for the future administration.
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