President-elect Donald Trump made a rare return to Washington on Wednesday, entering the White House for the first time since being voted out of office. His visit was marked by a brief meeting with President Joe Biden, signaling the peaceful transfer of power.
The two men appeared for a photo op, with Biden speaking first, emphasizing the importance of a smooth transition. Trump, acknowledging the challenge of politics, expressed gratitude to Biden for ensuring a smooth handover of power. When reporters shouted questions, neither responded.
This moment stands in stark contrast to the post-election period of 2020, when Trump refused to concede the election results and delayed Biden’s inauguration. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris conceded defeat earlier in the week, speaking to a crowd of supporters in Washington.
First Lady Jill Biden also welcomed Trump to the White House, presenting him with a handwritten letter addressed to Melania Trump. The letter expressed her team’s readiness to assist with the transition.
One lingering question was whether Vice President-elect JD Vance would participate in the Washington events. As of Tuesday evening, sources indicated Vance had not been contacted by Harris or the Biden team about any outreach.
Since Election Day, Trump has remained in Florida, surrounded by allies as he prepares for his upcoming administration. He has been busy rolling out his Cabinet appointments, many of which include loyalists. Trump’s return to Washington comes after his party secured significant electoral victories, potentially gaining control of both the Senate and the House.
Before heading to the White House, Trump addressed House Republicans, celebrating his party’s strong performance. “Isn’t it nice to win? It’s always nice to win,” he remarked, adding that the results were historic, especially for the presidency.
Trump also plans to meet with Senate Republicans, who were holding closed-door meetings on Wednesday to elect a new leader. The White House extended invitations to both Trump and his wife Melania. However, Melania did not accompany her husband to the White House, in contrast to 2016, when she met with former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Top officials from both the Biden and Trump teams are set to meet today as part of the transition. Several senior Trump staffers joined his motorcade to the White House, marking the beginning of a coordinated effort for the new administration.
In a series of announcements, Trump revealed key members of his staff who will join his White House team, including Dan Scavino as deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy, James Blair as deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs, and Taylor Budowich as deputy chief of staff for communications.
Trump’s visit on Wednesday is reminiscent of the 2016 transition, when then-President Barack Obama invited Trump to the White House for a meeting two days after the election. That sit-down, which lasted 90 minutes, was described as “excellent” by Obama. At the time, Biden also met with Vice President Mike Pence.
In contrast, after the 2020 election, Trump resisted meeting with Biden and refused to participate in the transfer of power. Instead, he blocked Biden’s team from accessing government resources and information.
Biden has consistently emphasized the importance of a peaceful transfer of power. In remarks after his election victory, he stressed, “You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.”
