U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, longtime political rivals, held a cordial meeting at the White House on Wednesday, focusing on Ukraine and the Middle East, aiming
to demonstrate a smooth transition of power despite significant policy differences.
Seated side by side in the Oval Office, the two leaders discussed major national security and domestic policy issues. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre described the interaction as "cordial, gracious, and substantive," noting that the meeting lasted about two hours.
Biden emphasized that supporting Ukraine strengthens U.S. national security by ensuring a stable Europe, which would keep America from being drawn into conflicts. Trump, meanwhile, has vowed to quickly end the Russia-Ukraine war, though he has not elaborated on his approach.
According to the New York Post, Trump and Biden also extensively discussed the Middle East. Trump noted that Biden was "gracious" in sharing his views on the region.
Despite their political history—Biden, a Democrat, defeated Trump in the 2020 election but later withdrew from the 2024 race, leading to a Republican victory by Trump—the two discussed a smooth transfer of power. Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a seamless transition, welcoming Trump back to the Oval Office.
Biden, 81, has often criticized Trump, 78, as a threat to democracy, while Trump has portrayed Biden as ineffective. Their opposing teams hold divergent positions on issues like climate change, trade, and relations with Russia.
During the meeting, Biden pushed for legislative priorities in Congress' lame-duck session, including government funding and disaster relief. Both men's chiefs of staff, Jeff Zients for Biden and Susie Wiles for Trump, were also present.
First Lady Jill Biden greeted Trump upon his arrival and handed him a congratulatory letter for his wife, Melania Trump, expressing her team's readiness to support the transition. Melania, however, did not attend the meeting.
Earlier, Trump celebrated his House majority win with Republican lawmakers, remarking, "Isn't it nice to win?"
Despite the amicable atmosphere, some aspects of the transition remain stalled. Trump's team has not yet signed agreements for office space and access to government resources. Valerie Smith Boyd of the Partnership for Public Service noted that these agreements are essential for interacting with federal agencies.
The meeting marked the first substantial discussion between Biden and Trump since their June debate. They also appeared together with Vice President Kamala Harris in New York on September 11 to commemorate the 9/11 attacks. Photo by User:Cezary Piwowarczyk, Wikimedia commons.