Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump met President Joe Biden November 13 in the Oval Office of the White House and assured the nation of a peaceful transition of power on January 20, 2025. This was Trump's first visit to the White House after his 2020 election loss to Biden and his refusal to accept his defeat while claiming fraud.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed Ukraine and the Middle East. Arguing that supporting Ukraine is important for US national security, the outgoing President said that a strong and stable Europe would keep America from going into a war, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Biden told Trump that he would ensure a smooth and peaceful transfer of power and to do all he could "to make sure you're accommodated". To this, Trump replied, "It'll be as smooth as it can get." First Lady Jill Biden joined her husband and congratulated Trump on his victory. She handed him a letter of congratulations addressed to former First Lady Melania Trump, according to The Hill.
The exchange between Biden and Trump was a sharp contrast to the criticism the two leaders made at each other for years. During campaigning, Biden, 81, portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy, while Trump, 78, called Biden incompetent. Trump became the first President in over 130 years to win non-consecutive terms, defeating Harris and securing 312 electoral votes as opposed to the Vice President's 226.
