Trump, Biden meet in Oval Office

President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden met at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. Video obtained by the Associated Press appears to show a cordial meeting. Trump was seated to Biden’s right in front of a lit fireplace as they faced reporters. Biden shook hands with Trump, referring to him first as “Mr. President-elect,” and then “former president,” before calling him simply “Donald.” Biden congratulated Trump on his election victory and promised that his administration would provide everything needed for a smooth transition.

What did Trump say? Trump replied by thanking Biden for his comments. He added that the world of politics is not a nice world, but it happened to be a nice world today. Trump then expressed his appreciation for what he characterized as a transition that would be as smooth as it could get.

As reporters shouted questions, the two smiled and spoke to each other inaudibly.

What about behind closed doors? White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday that Trump and Biden spoke for two hours in the Oval Office. Other than the two of them, only White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were in the room. Jean-Pierre described the meeting as a substantive exchange of views over important national security and domestic issues. She added that Trump brought what she characterized as a detailed list of questions, but she declined to specify what was on the list. She later added that the current state of Israeli hostages held by the Gaza-based terror group Hamas was among the topics discussed.

Did Trump elaborate on the meeting? In a phone call to the New York Post Wednesday afternoon, Trump revealed that he and Biden discussed two hot-button issues: the war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Trump said he wanted to get Biden’s views on both topics, and the president was gracious in giving them to him. He also said his transition team enjoys what he called a very, very good relationship with the Biden White House.

Dig deeper: Read WORLD’s latest report on Trump’s growing list of Cabinet nominees and advisers.