United States President-elect Donald Trump was welcomed to the White House by outgoing President Joe Biden for a traditional transition meeting, held in the Oval Office on Wednesday. This meeting follows a heated election campaign, where Biden eventually dropped out after a challenging debate against Trump. Biden’s successor as the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, lost to Trump by a wide margin on November 5.

In front of the cameras, Biden and Trump shook hands, with Biden emphasizing a “peaceful transition.” Trump expressed appreciation, promising a transition "as smooth as you can get." During their conversation, Trump sought Biden’s views on Ukraine and the Middle East, which Biden shared openly.

This meeting marks a significant shift from four years ago when Trump contested his 2020 election defeat and refused a transition meeting or to attend Biden's inauguration. Barbara Perry, a presidential historian, called the event a "return to form," stressing the importance of smooth transitions in U.S. governance.

However, Trump’s team has yet to sign key transition agreements allowing access to classified information, held up partly due to a required ethics code submission. Despite the cordial public appearance, Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett noted that the visible camaraderie might be a facade, given the antagonism between the two throughout the campaign.

Biden previously committed to an orderly transition, stating, “You can’t love your country only when you win.” Trump, with strong backing from Congressional Republicans, is poised to advance his policies, particularly with Republicans likely to control both the House and Senate. This power shift provides Trump a significant legislative advantage until the 2026 midterms.

During a closed-door meeting with Congressional Republicans, Trump even joked about the possibility of a third term. Senate Republicans also voted on their new majority leader, selecting John Thune over Trump’s preferred candidate, Rick Scott, who withdrew after the first round.