President Joe Biden on Wednesday welcomed President-elect Donald Trump to the White House for an Oval Office visit as part of the transition of power.
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Trump Says He Had ‘Very Good Meeting’ With Biden
Trump told The New York Post that he and Biden discussed two issues they disagree on: Ukraine and Israel’s war against the Hamas terrorist group.
“I asked for his views and he gave them to me,” Trump told the newspaper after the meeting. “Also, we talked very much about the Middle East, likewise. I wanted to know his views on where we are and what, what he thinks. And he gave them to me, he was very gracious.”
Biden strongly backs Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion of the country and has repeatedly said he supports Israel’s right to defend itself.
Trump has promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly and has said the Biden administration isn’t doing enough to support Israel against Hamas and its other enemies.
White House Says Trump and Biden Had ‘Substantive’ Meeting
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden and Trump had a “substantive meeting” for about two hours.
She says they talked about domestic and foreign policy issues, and that Biden also raised important issues on Congress’s to-do list, such as funding the government and providing disaster relief money.
Biden also stressed to Trump that the transition will be orderly and there will be a peaceful transfer of power.
Trump Heads Back to Florida
Trump’s plane took off from Joint Base Andrews just after 1:30 p.m. ET.
He’s returning to his home in Palm Beach, Florida, after about four hours in Washington.
Trump Leaves the White House
Trump has left the White House after meeting with Biden for close to two hours.
He’s expected to head to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly back to Florida.
Biden and Trump Both Promise Smooth Transition
At the White House, the outgoing president and returning president-elect sat in matching yellow chairs in front of a roaring fireplace.
Biden told Trump his team will “do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated” and has everything he needs.
“Congratulations and I look forward to having a smooth transition,” Biden said.
Trump responded by saying, “Politics is tough and it’s, uh, in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today and I appreciate very much a transition that’s so smooth it’ll be as smooth as it can get. And I very much appreciate that, Joe.”
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients and incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles are attending the meeting.
Jill Biden Joins President to Greet Trump
First lady Jill Biden joined President Joe Biden to greet the president-elect when he arrived at the White House.
The White House says the first lady also gave Trump a handwritten letter of congratulations for his wife, Melania, the returning first lady.
In her letter, Jill Biden expressed her team’s readiness to assist Melania Trump with the transition, the White House said.
Four Advisers From Trump Campaign Will Be Joining White House Staff
Trump is bringing four advisers from his presidential campaign into his new White House as deputy chiefs of staff, including two longtime aides and the political director who played a key role in his victory.
Trump announced Wednesday that longtime aide Dan Scavino will serve as a deputy without giving a specific portfolio; campaign political director James Blair as deputy for legislative, political, and public affairs; and Taylor Budowich as deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. All will have the rank of assistant to the president.
Trump also formally announced the return of Stephen Miller, who previously served in the Trump administration, as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. That had previously been confirmed by Vice President-elect JD Vance on Monday.
Trump Arrives at White House
Trump arrived a little behind schedule for the meeting with Biden.
It was scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.
Biden Talks Education at Event Before Meeting With Trump
As Trump was appearing on Capitol Hill, the Bidens hosted educators at the White House to talk about the administration’s work to promote community colleges.
Jill Biden has taught English and writing at community colleges for many years.
At one point she noted that the semester is ending soon and her students are working on their final assignments. Then she said, “Joe and I are also preparing for what’s coming next.”
Biden then made the sign of the cross over himself and smiled. The audience laughed.
Elon Musk Arrives at GOP Conference in Washington
Elon Musk arrived at the GOP conference in Washington just as Trump was coming in to address leaders.
On Tuesday night, Trump said Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy would run a panel focused on government efficiency that would be outside government but advise the White House. It’s not entirely clear how the operation will work.
Trump Thinks Even Democratic Strongholds Can Be Won by GOP
“We won it every way, all seven swing states by a lot,” Trump said, speaking to Republican leaders in Washington.
Trump commented on the results in Democratic strongholds like New Jersey and California, declaring that winning in the latter state would be “very doable. It would be really doable if they change the election process.”
Trump Says It’s ‘Nice to Win’
Trump is speaking to GOP leaders in Washington for the first time since he won the 2024 presidential election.
“It’s always nice to win,” Trump said.
Trump won 312 electoral votes to Democrat Kamala Harris’s 226.
Trump Welcomed With Standing Ovation at GOP Conference
Trump got a standing ovation from House GOP leaders gathered for a conference at a Washington hotel Wednesday morning.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said: “Ladies and gentlemen please stand for the 47th President of the United States.”
Rubio Wouldn’t Confirm or Deny Reports that Trump Asked Him to Serve as Secretary of State
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), when asked about it Wednesday, told reporters “those are media reports” and said any news would come from Trump’s transition team.
2 Members of Congress Honored for Their Efforts on Immigration Policy
As House Republicans are meeting, two members of Congress trying to come to agreement on border and immigration policy are being honored for their efforts.
Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas) began their effort in July.
They were honored Wednesday in Washington by the National Immigration Forum, an organization that promotes the value of immigration in America.
Trump en Route to Meet With House Republicans
The president-elect walked slowly down the airplane stairs at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, greeted his military greeter, and got into the motorcade for the trip to Capitol Hill.
He did not speak with reporters who were there to document his arrival in Washington.
Musk Shares Details About His New Appointment
Elon Musk, in a post on his X platform on Wednesday, shared a message from a shareholder in his company noting that his appointment running a new “Department of Government Efficiency” for President-elect Donald Trump will provide advice and guidance to the new president from outside of government and is limited to 21 months, ending on July 4, 2026.
Musk shared the post with the message: “Important details”
Melania Trump Not Joining Husband at the White House Meeting
“Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success,” Melania Trump’s office said.
No reason was given for why she didn’t accept the invitation.
The Bidens had extended congratulations and a joint invite to the Trumps to meet at the White House. The spouses typically meet upstairs in the residence while the president and president-elect meet in the Oval Office.
Biden to Host Trump at the White House
President Joe Biden is set to meet with President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday in the Oval Office as part of the transition of power.
Trump is returning to the White House for the first time in four years following a decisive victory in the Nov. 5 election. His win capped a stunning comeback after losing his reelection bid to Biden in 2020.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the president and his team are focused on ensuring the transition is both effective and efficient.
In a press briefing on Nov. 12, Jean-Pierre said that Biden is hosting this meeting “because he believes in the norms.”
“He said the American people deserve this. They deserve a peaceful transfer of power.”
On Nov. 10, 2016, President Barack Obama invited then-President-elect Trump to the White House as part of a longstanding tradition.
However, following his dispute over the results of the 2020 election, which he maintains to this day was stolen, Trump did not extend the invitation to then-President-elect Biden.
The upcoming meeting between Biden and Trump is expected to be cordial, reflecting a significant shift in the relationship between the two presidents since the 2020 election.
Biden repeatedly called Trump an “existential threat” to democracy, accusing him of instigating the breach of Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump, in turn, referred to Biden as “the worst president in the history of the United States, by far.”
However, on Nov. 7, Biden delivered a speech from the Rose Garden, promising a peaceful transition of power and urging Americans to “accept the choice.” The day before, Biden had spoken with Trump to congratulate him on his victory in the 2024 election.
Trump’s team quickly confirmed the call in a statement.
“President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call,” Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, said in the statement.
Biden and Trump are expected to discuss top domestic and foreign policy issues, according to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
The Associated Press and Epoch Times reporters Jack Phillips and Emel Akan contributed to this report.