The meeting between Biden and Trump marks a return to the traditional power transfer, which was largely abandoned in 2020. Joe Biden gave his full support for the transition, and Donald Trump promised a seamless handover of power at their meeting on wednesday. Long-time political foe Biden congratulated Trump on his win and promised him the administration’s support when they met in the Oval Office. In return, Trump thanked Biden for his cordial welcome and dedication to a seamless transition despite their prior conflicts.
Whereas, Melania Trump declined the invite to meet First Lady Jill Biden. The White House stated that the first lady sent a handwritten letter of congratulations to Mrs. Trump. While the reporters tried to ask questions, both men ignored the inquiries and continued their meeting for over an hour. Trump spoke to House Republicans on Capitol Hill before he met with Biden, praising the party’s recent achievements and raising the prospect of a third term.
Despite the US constitution’s two-term limit on presidents, Trump has hinted at extending his term. Elon Musk was also present during Trump’s meeting with the House Republicans, sitting in the front row. For the new Department of Government Efficiency the co-leaders will be Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. This move raised concerns about potential reforms to the federal workforce under Trump’s leadership.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson presented Trump calling him the “comeback king” and praised him as a singular figure in American history. Meanwhile, Republicans gained a majority in the Senate, and House races remained undecided. Trump’s cabinet appointments are already underway, with prominent Republicans like Marco Rubio as his secretary of state and Elise Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations, while Mike Waltz will serve as his national security adviser.
