Donald Trump triumphantly returns to the White House and shakes hands with Joe Biden

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, received his successor, the re-elected Donald Trump, who after stating that politics “is tough,” thanked the outgoing president for facilitating the transition between the two administrations.

When the press entered the Oval Office, both leaders were sitting side by side in armchairs, with the fire in the fireplace crackling in the background. Trump smiled at the press, and then Biden, who was acting as host, welcomed him to the White House and extended his hand to shake it effusively.

“Well, Mr. President-Elect, Donald, congratulations… I hope we have a smooth transition. Welcome“said Biden, while Trump listened to him with his hands clasped and leaning forward in the chair. Melania Trump, the future president’s wife, was absent without giving a reason but wished her husband “great success.”

“We will do everything we can to make sure he has everything he needs,” the president said after congratulating him. The situation is very humiliating for the octogenarian Democrat, who knows that the incoming team can undo much of his legacy.

Biden invited Trump to the White House in a phone call on Nov. 6, the day after the election, and the Republican leader immediately accepted. The White House announced on Saturday that the meeting would be this Wednesday.

This type of meeting is usually a tradition in American politics to ensure an orderly transfer of power. However, In 2020 Trump did not invite Biden to the White House after his electoral victory. In fact, the Republican spread unfounded theories about fraud and He did not even attend the investiture of his successorbecoming the first US president not to do so since 1869.

The re-elected president thanked Joe Biden for his promise of a smooth transfer of powers. “Politics is hard and in many cases it is not a very pleasant world. Today it is a pleasant world and I appreciate it very much,” he said. “I am very grateful that the transition is being this fluid and that it continues that way,” he added. Biden responded with a terse “you’re welcome.”

The outgoing and incoming presidents appeared before the media for a few seconds before starting a private meeting.

Before his visit to the White House, Trump held a meeting with congressional Republicans at a hotel near the Capitol, where he will go later this Wednesday.

The re-elected president has spent the week since the election at his Florida mansion, forming his team. Among the latest appointments, the richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, stands out as head of a new “government efficiency commission”, together with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. The latter has promised in X that the duo will not mince words.

During the campaign, Musk suggested that the commission could make cuts of up to $2 trillion in the federal budget, an amount greater than the combined Defense, Education and Homeland Security budgets. For now, he will accompany Trump at several events scheduled this Wednesday.

The most important position announced so far is that of head of diplomacy, for which Florida Senator Marco Rubio has been chosen.according to American media. Congressman Michael Waltz, a former special forces officer, would be his national security adviser. Both have warmongering views on China but are not considered isolationists, despite Trump’s previous threats to withdraw from or cut off from NATO.

It was also confirmed that Governor Kristi Noem will lead the Department of Homeland Security, key because it is in charge of protecting customs and borders, managing migration and responding to natural disasters. He will work hand in hand with Tom Homan, the new “border czar.”