MONITORING (SW) – US President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, longtime political rivals, have met for the first time since Trump won back the White House last week and both men promised a smooth transfer of power in January.
The two leaders sat side by side before a roaring fire in the Oval Office, a peaceful scene that belied tensions between them, reported AP.
Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election but dropped out of the 2024 race in July after a disastrous debate with the Republican Trump.
He handed his candidacy to Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost.
“We’re looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition, do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, what you need,” Biden said.
“Welcome, welcome back.”
It was a sharp contrast to the criticism the two men have hurled at each other for years.
Their respective teams hold vastly different positions on policies from climate change to Russia to trade.
Biden, 81, has portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy while Trump, 78, has portrayed Biden as incompetent.
Trump made claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election even though his own attorney general, recounts and investigations found no evidence of that.
“Isn’t it nice to win? It’s nice to win. It’s always nice to win,” Trump said.
“The House did very well.”
Outside the White House gates, signs of the impending power transfer were evident with construction already under way for the stands for VIP guests to sit during the parade that will take place after Trump is inaugurated.
