Following a stormy campaign period, Biden and Trump engage in a 2-hour conversation
Biden has offered Trump the Oval Office meeting that was denied to him in 2020.
TroibNews 
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden welcomed President-elect Donald Trump back to the White House in a meeting that, while marked by historical rivalry, felt surprisingly ordinary.
Seated next to one another in large chairs in the Oval Office, they smiled for cameras and shared light-hearted jokes. They shook hands and exchanged warm greetings, during which Biden congratulated Trump on his electoral victory, and Trump praised Biden for facilitating a smooth transition of power.
As Trump prepared for his return to the White House—an exit four years ago marked by controversy—he opted to take a diplomatic stance. “Politics is tough, and in many cases it's not a nice world," he remarked. "But it is a nice world today."
The brief moment open to reporters signaled the start of the peaceful transfer of power that Trump had previously denied Biden four years back.
This encounter was particularly striking following a hard-fought campaign characterized by intense rhetoric regarding the nation’s future. Biden had long portrayed Trump as a serious threat to the country's core values—a view that deeply resonated with him personally.
Biden incorporated Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and challenges to the 2020 election results into the core message of his reelection campaign. Conversely, Trump focused on questioning Biden's mental sharpness while continuously promising to take action against his political rivals. Their last notable exchange had taken place during a June debate, which marked a significant low point for Biden’s political career.
"I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence," Trump noted during that debate, displaying a condescending attitude toward Biden as the president struggled to articulate his points.
However, just a week following an election that significantly favored Trump, the two shared a cordial—albeit slightly awkward—photo opportunity by a warm fire.
Their private discussion lasted nearly two hours and included Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, as well as Trump’s campaign manager and incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles. First lady Jill Biden also made a brief appearance, congratulating Trump and delivering a letter for Melania Trump, who opted not to attend.
The White House revealed few specifics about their closed-door conversation, though press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned discussions around immediate priorities such as government funding and the transition between administrations. Biden’s team anticipated that he would raise issues related to foreign affairs, with aides expressing concerns about how Trump might disrupt diplomatic relations amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Trump has expressed opposition to continued support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, suggesting instead a collaboration with President Vladimir Putin towards a peace arrangement. Officials expect that Trump’s more lenient stance on Israel and its military actions in Gaza may exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis.
When the meeting concluded, neither Biden nor Trump reappeared before the press, with Trump discreetly leaving past the gathered reporters outside.
"It was very cordial, very gracious," Jean-Pierre reported in the briefing room. "The president wants you all to know that Trump was gracious, came with a detailed set of questions."
This collaborative approach aligns with Biden’s broader commitment to ensuring a professional transition, which he views as vital to maintaining public trust in electoral processes and the integrity of national institutions.
Even after cautioning earlier this year that Trump was "willing to sacrifice our democracy," Biden directed his aides to ensure that Trump's team has the necessary resources to establish its administration. Thus far, he has refrained from vocalizing concerns about Trump's tendencies—concerns that defined the campaigns of both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
"We accept the choice the country made," Biden stated last week in the Rose Garden, emphasizing that "you can't love your country only when you win."
This perspective indirectly confronts Trump’s behavior in 2020 but has not satisfied some Democrats who wish for a more pronounced public response to Trump's resurgence from Biden and his team, given the gravity of the situation.
In stark contrast, four years earlier, Trump had refused to concede and never extended an invitation to Biden for a visit to the Oval Office. Instead, he embarked on a prolonged effort to dispute the election results, a campaign that culminated in the January 6 insurrection.
This tumultuous period—and Trump’s role in fostering election denialism—prompted Biden to run for reelection this year at 81, despite widespread concerns regarding his age and capacity, which would later become prominent. Biden and his allies argued throughout his challenging campaign that only he had successfully defeated Trump in the past.
As he sat beside Trump on Wednesday, preparing to return authority to the twice-impeached former president he had once labeled a "loser," Biden remained the singular figure who had managed to do so before.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Seated next to one another in large chairs in the Oval Office, they smiled for cameras and shared light-hearted jokes. They shook hands and exchanged warm greetings, during which Biden congratulated Trump on his electoral victory, and Trump praised Biden for facilitating a smooth transition of power.
As Trump prepared for his return to the White House—an exit four years ago marked by controversy—he opted to take a diplomatic stance. “Politics is tough, and in many cases it's not a nice world," he remarked. "But it is a nice world today."
The brief moment open to reporters signaled the start of the peaceful transfer of power that Trump had previously denied Biden four years back.
This encounter was particularly striking following a hard-fought campaign characterized by intense rhetoric regarding the nation’s future. Biden had long portrayed Trump as a serious threat to the country's core values—a view that deeply resonated with him personally.
Biden incorporated Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and challenges to the 2020 election results into the core message of his reelection campaign. Conversely, Trump focused on questioning Biden's mental sharpness while continuously promising to take action against his political rivals. Their last notable exchange had taken place during a June debate, which marked a significant low point for Biden’s political career.
"I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence," Trump noted during that debate, displaying a condescending attitude toward Biden as the president struggled to articulate his points.
However, just a week following an election that significantly favored Trump, the two shared a cordial—albeit slightly awkward—photo opportunity by a warm fire.
Their private discussion lasted nearly two hours and included Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, as well as Trump’s campaign manager and incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles. First lady Jill Biden also made a brief appearance, congratulating Trump and delivering a letter for Melania Trump, who opted not to attend.
The White House revealed few specifics about their closed-door conversation, though press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned discussions around immediate priorities such as government funding and the transition between administrations. Biden’s team anticipated that he would raise issues related to foreign affairs, with aides expressing concerns about how Trump might disrupt diplomatic relations amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Trump has expressed opposition to continued support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia, suggesting instead a collaboration with President Vladimir Putin towards a peace arrangement. Officials expect that Trump’s more lenient stance on Israel and its military actions in Gaza may exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis.
When the meeting concluded, neither Biden nor Trump reappeared before the press, with Trump discreetly leaving past the gathered reporters outside.
"It was very cordial, very gracious," Jean-Pierre reported in the briefing room. "The president wants you all to know that Trump was gracious, came with a detailed set of questions."
This collaborative approach aligns with Biden’s broader commitment to ensuring a professional transition, which he views as vital to maintaining public trust in electoral processes and the integrity of national institutions.
Even after cautioning earlier this year that Trump was "willing to sacrifice our democracy," Biden directed his aides to ensure that Trump's team has the necessary resources to establish its administration. Thus far, he has refrained from vocalizing concerns about Trump's tendencies—concerns that defined the campaigns of both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
"We accept the choice the country made," Biden stated last week in the Rose Garden, emphasizing that "you can't love your country only when you win."
This perspective indirectly confronts Trump’s behavior in 2020 but has not satisfied some Democrats who wish for a more pronounced public response to Trump's resurgence from Biden and his team, given the gravity of the situation.
In stark contrast, four years earlier, Trump had refused to concede and never extended an invitation to Biden for a visit to the Oval Office. Instead, he embarked on a prolonged effort to dispute the election results, a campaign that culminated in the January 6 insurrection.
This tumultuous period—and Trump’s role in fostering election denialism—prompted Biden to run for reelection this year at 81, despite widespread concerns regarding his age and capacity, which would later become prominent. Biden and his allies argued throughout his challenging campaign that only he had successfully defeated Trump in the past.
As he sat beside Trump on Wednesday, preparing to return authority to the twice-impeached former president he had once labeled a "loser," Biden remained the singular figure who had managed to do so before.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
