President at the White House — a long-running tradition between incoming and outgoing heads of state that Trump briefly paused in 2020.
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the pair of political rivals met in the Oval Office to begin the transition between administrations. Biden, the 46th president, posed while shaking hands with Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president, during a brief moment when pool reporters were allowed in the room.
"Congratulations and I look forward to having a smooth transition," Biden, 81, told Trump, 78, in front of reporters.
"It will be as smooth as it can get and I very much appreciate that, Joe," Trump responded. "Politics is tough and in many cases it’s not a nice world, but it is a nice world today."
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SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty
Though tradition suggests that the spouses of the political officials also meet, former first lady hours before the White House meeting. "Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success."
The White House said that Jill helped her husband greet President Trump, and gave him a handwritten letter to pass along to Melania that expressed her congratulations and said her team is ready to help Melania with the transition.
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MORRY GASH/POOL/AFP via Getty
Trump and Biden were notably the two presidential candidates in 2020, in which with 306 electoral votes.
Though Biden also won the popular vote four years ago and there was no evidence of fraud in election procedure, Trump notoriously denied the results of the election.
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Trump's refusal to concede resulted in his followers storming the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to halt the certification of the election. The Jan. 6, 2021 violence brought about the deaths of numerous people, including police officers and Trump supporters.
Trump did not invite the Bidens to the White House ahead of the 46th president's swearing-in, nor did his family attend the inauguration.
. He will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2025.