Trump meets Biden during triumphant visit to White House

Two leaders hold 'substantive' two-hour talk ahead of what President promises will be peaceful transfer of power

US president-elect Donald Trump met President Joe Biden on Wednesday in the Oval Office in Washington to discuss his impending return to the White House.

Seated by a fireplace, Mr Biden congratulated Mr Trump on winning the presidential election, and the two leaders said they looked forward to a smooth transfer of power. That did not happen in 2020 when Mr Biden beat Mr Trump, who refused to concede defeat and resisted leaving office.

“Well, Mr president-elect, Donald, congratulations and I look forward to having a smooth transition. Welcome,” Mr Biden said.

“Politics is tough,” Mr Trump replied. “And in many cases it is not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, I appreciate it very much. The transition is so smooth, and it will be as smooth as it can get.”

Mr Biden's chief of staff Jeff Zients and incoming Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles also attended the meeting, the White House said.

During the meeting, Mr Biden pushed for the new administration to continue to support Ukraine in its effort to fend off Russia's invasion. Mr Trump and his allies have called further Ukraine aid into question, citing the hefty cost.

“President Biden reinforced his view that the United States' standing with Ukraine at an ongoing basis is in our national security interest,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.

“The President has made this case, he'll continue to make this case, both privately and publicly that our investment in Ukraine in funds that the Congress has appropriated – these aren't just dollars that we're picking up and shipping over to another country. They're dollars we're investing here in the United States in American jobs producing American weapons that we send to Ukraine.”

Mr Sullivan did not say what a new administration would mean for US efforts to broker a deal to end the Israel-Gaza war and secure the return of the hostages, as well as end Israel's invasion of Lebanon.

“We are still actively working in support of our common efforts to push back against our common adversaries, to try to deal with the situation in Gaza, in Lebanon and directly, with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the meeting was “substantive” and focused on important national security matters as well as domestic and international issues. She said the meeting lasted for two hours.

“The President reiterated what he said to the president-elect the day after the election, and to the American people and the world just last week: we will have an orderly transition and a peaceful transition of power,” she told journalists after the meeting.

Mr Trump's triumphant visit comes after winning the presidential election last week against Vice President Kamala Harris and amid a flurry of announcements of cabinet and staff nominations for his new administration.

It comes at Mr Biden's invitation, in the decades-old tradition of departing presidents hosting incoming ones. It is largely symbolic, but also a show of respect and bipartisanship.

Four years ago, Mr Trump did not extend the display of courtesy to Mr Biden following his electoral victory, and instead insisted that the election was rigged. He also did not attend Mr Biden's inauguration ceremony.

Plans for the impending transfer of power are well under way. Outside the White House gates, a wooden platform is being constructed where guests will be seated to watch the events on Inauguration Day on January 20.

Mr Biden dropped out of the presidential race in July after a dismal performance in a debate with Mr Trump that raised concerns over his ability to handle another term.