US
Joe Biden welcomes Donald Trump at White House for transition of power meeting president was never offered
US President Joe Biden has welcomed Donald Trump for a meeting at the White House aimed at ensuring the smooth transition of power from one leader to another.
It is the first time the president-elect has visited the White House since he left the Oval Office after being defeated by Mr Biden in the 2020 election.
Mr Biden and Mr Trump were seen exchanging pleasantries as they sat side by side in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office.
“Donald, congratulations,” Mr Biden said, greeting Mr Trump with a handshake and adding that he looked “forward to a smooth transition.”
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The president and president-elect shaking hands. Pic: Reuters
The president-elect thanked Mr Biden for the invitation and for a peaceful transition of power saying it will be “as smooth as it can get”.
Mr Trump added: “Politics is tough. And it’s, in many cases, not a very nice world. But it is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much.”
First lady Jill Biden also made an appearance at the meeting, greeting the president-elect as he arrived at the White House and giving him a “handwritten letter of congratulations” for his wife, Melania Trump, a statement from her office said.
The letter also “expressed her team’s readiness to assist with the transition”.
The incoming first lady was invited to meet Mrs Biden, but reportedly declined the invitation.
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Mr Trump thanked the outgoing president for a smooth transition of power. Pic: Reuters
The meeting follows the longstanding tradition of outgoing presidents meeting their successors to discuss a smooth transition from one administration to the other.
However, Republican Mr Trump failed to give the same opportunity to Mr Biden in 2020 as he refused to accept his defeat against his Democratic rival.
Mr Trump, who previously won the keys to the White House when running against Hillary Clinton in 2016, will be sworn in as president in January following his decisive election win against vice president Kamala Harris last week.
The last time Mr Trump and Mr Biden met in person was for the presidential debate on 27 June, when the Democrat’s gaffes cost him his candidacy. Mr Biden dropped out a few weeks later in July, endorsing Ms Harris to run in the presidential race instead.
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Mr Trump met with billionaire Elon Musk earlier today before he celebrated his victory with Republicans in the House of Representatives who have a good chance of maintaining control of the chamber as election results continue to trickle in.
“Isn’t it nice to win? It’s nice to win. It’s always nice to win,” Mr Trump said. “The House did very well.”
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‘It’s always nice to win’
Mr Trump received a standing ovation from House Republicans, many of whom took videos of him as he ran through their party’s victories up and down the ballot, in what would be his final presidential election.
“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say ‘he’s good, we’ve got to figure something out’,” Mr Trump said to laughter.