The two US leaders sat side by side in the Oval Office. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the meeting ended after about two hours. “They discussed important national security and domestic policy issues facing the nation and the world,” she told reporters.
Biden said that providing aid to Ukraine was in the national security interest of the United States, for a strong and stable Europe, and would keep the United States from being dragged into war, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. Trump had pledged to quickly end the Russia-Ukraine conflict after taking office.
US President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on November 13, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Mr Trump told the New York Post that he and President Biden “talked a lot about the Middle East” during their conversation. “I wanted to get his perspective on where we are,” Mr Trump said, according to the NYP.
“We look forward to having, as we said, a smooth transition…”, Mr. Biden told Mr. Trump. “Welcome back, welcome back.”
“Politics is a tough business, and in many cases the world is not great, but the world is great right now, and I appreciate very much that the transition goes smoothly, as smoothly as possible, and I appreciate that very much, Joe,” Trump responded.
During the meeting, Mr. Biden pushed his priorities, including funding the government and providing more money for disaster relief, Ms. Jean-Pierre said. Mr. Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients and Mr. Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles also attended the meeting.
“He believes in norms, he believes in our institutions, he believes in the peaceful transfer of power,” a White House spokesman said of President Biden’s decision to invite Mr. Trump.
First Lady Jill Biden joined Mr. Biden in welcoming Mr. Trump upon his arrival. The White House said she gave Mr. Trump a handwritten letter congratulating his wife, Melania Trump, and “expressing her team’s readiness to assist with the transition.”
Hoang Anh (according to NYP, Reuters)
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