On Wednesday, November 13th, US President-elect Trump (Trump) returned to the White House and met with current President Biden in the Oval Office. During their interaction with the media, both Biden and Trump appeared relaxed.
Biden welcomed Trump back to the Oval Office and expressed his anticipation for a peaceful transition.
Trump expressed his gratitude, stating, “Politics is tough… but the transition has been very smooth.” Biden replied, “You’re welcome.”
After a brief public dialogue, the two began their closed-door meeting.
Wednesday’s private meeting is part of the peaceful transition of power between US presidents. The scene of the two sitting down together still carried a sense of drama, as Trump had skipped this part of the procedure when Biden took office, and now it was Biden’s turn to hand over power to Trump.
Trump’s landslide victory in last week’s election marked his political comeback, solidifying his position as the undisputed leader of the Republican Party once again. He first went to Congress on Wednesday before heading to the White House.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated before the meeting that Biden is committed to ensuring “this transition is effective and efficient.”
“This is routine and the right thing for the American people,” she said.
When discussing Biden’s decision to invite Trump to the White House, Jean-Pierre said, “He believes in norms, in our system, in the peaceful transition of power.”
Biden’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, said they will conduct a responsible handover from one president to the next, which is the best tradition of our country.
Sullivan told CBS, “They will discuss the most important issues – both domestic and foreign policy matters – including what’s happening in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.”
“The president will have the opportunity to explain to President Trump how he views these matters… and discuss with President Trump how he intends to handle these issues once in office,” he added.
Independent journalist Kylena Becker wrote on X, saying that it is exciting to see both US presidents showing unity for America.
Outside the gates of the White House, signs of the impending power transition are evident. After Trump’s inauguration on January 20th next year, a parade will be held, and construction of the grandstand for VIPs is already underway.
According to the White House, the Trump team has announced some of the incoming president’s cabinet members, but agreements have yet to be signed. These agreements will involve office space, government equipment, and the right to interact with government officials, facilities, and information.
“Trump-Wans transition attorney continues to have constructive contacts with the Biden-Ho Kwantai government attorney regarding all agreements envisioned in the Presidential Transition Act,” said Brian Vance, spokesperson for the Trump transition team, referring to the law governing the transfer of power.
Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Public Service Partnership President Transition Center, stated that the agreements emphasize the principle of having only one president at a time in the US and commit to signing ethical agreements not to profit from information provided during the transition period.
“It is necessary to sign this agreement in order to begin interacting with federal agencies,” she said, “Everything depends on this.”