Trump, Biden meet at White House; leaders look forward to 'smooth transition'

WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump made a return to the White House on Wednesday where he met with President Joe Biden.

Biden welcomed him to the White House for an Oval Office visit, a traditional part of the peaceful transfer of power—a ritual Trump declined to participate in four years ago.

Inside the Oval Office, seated in matching yellow chairs in front of a roaring fireplace, President Joe Biden assured President-elect Donald Trump that his team will "do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated" and have everything needed for a smooth transition.

"Congratulations and I look forward to having a smooth transition," Biden said.

Trump responded, "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."

Reporters attempted to elicit responses from Biden and Trump by shouting questions about Ukraine and democracy. Despite the questions, no responses were provided.

As the shouting began, Biden looked at Trump, who shrugged. Journalists were then asked to leave the Oval Office.

First lady Jill Biden joined the president in greeting Trump upon his arrival at the White House. According to the White House, Jill Biden handed Trump a handwritten letter of congratulations for his wife, Melania Trump, the incoming first lady. Melania Trump did not accompany her husband for the traditional meeting with the outgoing first lady. In her letter, Jill Biden expressed her team's readiness to assist Melania Trump with the transition, the White House said.

Trump also met with Republicans in Congress to discuss his Day 1 priorities and prepare for a potentially unified government with a GOP sweep in the nation's capital. His arrival, coinciding with Republican congressional leadership elections, could influence the outcome. 

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Trump’s return marks a stunning return for the former president, who left nearly four years ago as a politically defeated leader following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump and his GOP allies view his comeback as a mandate for governance.

After his 2016 election win, Trump met with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, calling it "a great honor." However, he soon resumed his attacks on Obama, including unfounded accusations of wire-tapping during the 2016 campaign.

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Four years later, Trump disputed his 2020 election loss to Biden, continuing to falsely claim widespread voter fraud. He did not invite Biden, then president-elect, to the White House and skipped Biden's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson missed Ulysses S. Grant's swearing-in 155 years ago.

Despite spending over a year campaigning for reelection and criticizing Trump as a threat to democracy, Biden insists he will ensure a smooth transition to the next Trump administration. Biden exited the race in July, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him.

Following the election, Biden has softened his warnings about Trump, stating last week, "The American experiment endures. We're going to be okay."

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.