Trump, Biden Vow Smooth Power Transfer at White House Meeting
US President Joe Biden meets with US President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 13, 2024. Trump thanked Biden for pledging a smooth transfer of power as the victorious Republican made a historic return visit to the White House on Wednesday. ©Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP

President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden met on Wednesday for the first time since Trump won the US Presidential election last week, with both leaders promising a smooth transfer of power in January.

The meeting concluded after approximately two hours, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre reported.

"It was a substantive meeting," she told reporters. "They discussed important national security and domestic policy issues facing the nation and the world."

According to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Biden emphasized that supporting Ukraine aligns with US national security interests, as a strong and stable Europe helps prevent America from becoming entangled in conflict. Trump has vowed to end the Russia-Ukraine war swiftly, though he has not detailed his approach.

Trump told the New York Post that he and Biden "talked very much about the Middle East" during their conversation. "I wanted to know his views on where we are," Trump said. "And he gave them to me, he was very gracious," the Post quoted Trump as saying.

During the meeting, Biden also highlighted his priorities for the upcoming lame-duck session in Congress, including funding the government and securing additional disaster relief funds, Jean-Pierre noted. Biden's chief of staff, Jeff Zients, and Trump’s, Susie Wiles, attended the meeting as well.

Trump Meets Republican Lawmakers

Earlier in the day, Trump celebrated his victory with House Republicans, who are expected to retain control of the chamber as the November 5 election results continue to roll in.

After more than a week of counting, CNN and NBC projected that Republicans had reached the 218 seats necessary to maintain their majority in the 435-seat House of Representatives, while they had already secured control of the Senate.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk joined Trump for the meeting with Republican lawmakers. On Tuesday, Trump appointed Musk to co-lead a newly established Department of Government Efficiency, granting additional influence to Musk, who contributed millions of dollars to Trump’s election efforts.

Outside the White House gates, signs of the impending transition were visible, with construction underway for the VIP stands for the parade following Trump’s inauguration. Dozens of White House staff gathered on an outdoor stairwell to witness Trump's arrival.

Transition Partially Stalled

Though Biden aimed to demonstrate continuity through the meeting, the transition itself has encountered delays.

The Trump team, which has already named several cabinet members for the incoming administration, has not yet signed agreements that would grant office space, government equipment, and access to officials, facilities, and information, according to the White House.

"The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris Administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act," stated Brian Vance, a spokesperson for the Trump transition, referencing the law that governs the transfer of power.

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