President Joe Biden’s Oval Office meeting with President-elect Donald Trump was described as a substantive exchange of views by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a press briefing on Wednesday. The meeting focused on important national security and domestic policy issues facing the nation and the world. President Biden also highlighted key items on Congress’ agenda for the lame duck session, such as funding the government and providing the disaster supplemental funding requested by the president.
The meeting, which lasted around two hours, included White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. This meeting marked a return to presidential norms, as former President Trump, who contested the results of the 2020 election, had not extended the traditional White House invitation to then-President-elect Biden.
According to Jean-Pierre, President Biden reiterated his commitment to an orderly and peaceful transition of power, echoing his previous statements made to the president-elect and the American people. This meeting signifies a step towards a smooth transition between administrations, emphasizing the importance of continuity and cooperation in the transfer of power.