President Joe Biden welcomed President-elect Donald Trump to the White House on Wednesday for an Oval Office visit that's a traditional part of the peaceful handoff of power — a ritual Trump himself declined to participate in four years ago.
Meanwhile, with a dozen races left to be called.
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Biden greeted Trump with a handshake in the Oval Office, each pledging a smooth transition from Democrat to Republican
Biden congratulated Trump. Trump said “politics is tough” and not always a nice world “but it is a nice world today.”
Reporters were quickly ushered out of the room.
President-elect Donald Trump arrives at the White House
Trump arrived a little behind schedule for the meeting with President Joe Biden.
It was scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.
Biden talks education at a White House event before his meeting with Trump
As Trump was appearing on Capitol Hill, Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted educators at the White House to talk about the administration’s work to promote community colleges.
Jill Biden has taught English and writing at community colleges for many years.
At one point she noted that the semester is ending soon and her students are working on their final assignments. Then she said, “Joe and I are also preparing for what’s coming next.”
Biden then made the sign of the cross over himself and smiled. The audience laughed.
Elon Musk arrives at the GOP conference in Washington
Musk, who’s been a fixture of late with Trump, arrived at the GOP conference in Washington just as Trump was coming in to address leaders.
On Tuesday night, Trump said Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy would run a panel focused on government efficiency that would be outside government but advise the White House. It’s not entirely clear how the operation will work.
Trump says he thinks even Democratic strongholds can be won by the GOP
“We won it every way, all seven swing states by a lot,” he said, speaking to GOP leaders in Washington.
Trump commented on the results in Democratic strongholds like New Jersey and California, declaring that winning in the latter state would be “very doable. It would be really doable if they change the election process.”
Trump says it’s ‘nice to win’
Trump is speaking to GOP leaders in Washington for the first time since he won the 2024 presidential election.
“It’s always nice to win,” Trump said.
Trump won 312 electoral votes to Democrat Kamala Harris’ 226.
Trump is welcomed with a standing ovation at the GOP conference
Trump got a standing ovation from House GOP leaders gathered for a conference at a Washington hotel Wednesday morning.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said: “Ladies and gentlemen please stand for the 47th President of the United States.”
Sen. Marco Rubio wouldn’t confirm or deny reports that Trump asked him to serve as secretary of state
Rubio, when asked about it Wednesday, told reporters “those are media reports” and said any news would come from Trump’s transition team.
The Republican Florida senator is a former critic of Trump who’s become one of his fiercest defenders and appeared with him on the campaign trail in the final weeks.
Two members of Congress honored for their efforts on immigration policy
As House Republicans are meeting, two members of Congress trying to come to agreement on border and immigration policy are being honored for their efforts.
Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi of New York and Republican Congressman Morgan Luttrell of Texas began their effort in July.
They were honored Wednesday in Washington by the ϳԹ Immigration Forum, an organization that promotes the value of immigration in America.
Trump is en route to meet with House Republicans
The president-elect walked slowly down the airplane stairs at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, greeted his military greeter and got into the motorcade for the trip to Capitol Hill.
He did not speak with reporters who were there to document his arrival in Washington.
Elon Musk posted on social media details about his new appointment
It’s meant to reassure investors in his publicly traded company, Tesla.
The billionaire, in a post on X on Wednesday, shared a message from a shareholder in his company noting that his appointment running a new “Department of Government Efficiency” for President-elect Donald Trump will provide advice and guidance to the new president from outside of government and is limited to 21 months, ending on July 4, 2026.
Musk shared the post with the message: “Important details”
Melania Trump isn’t joining her husband at the White House
“Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success,” Melania Trump’s office said.
No reason was given for why she didn’t accept the invitation.
The Bidens had extended congratulations and a joint invite to the Trumps to meet at the White House. The spouses typically meet upstairs in the residence while the president and president-elect meet in the Oval Office.
Trump makes a victor’s return to Washington to meet with Biden and GOP lawmakers
is making a victor’s return to Washington.
The president-elect’s plane landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday morning. President — both Trump’s successor and predecessor to the presidency — will welcome him to the White House for an Oval Office visit. It’s a — a ritual Trump himself declined to participate in four years ago.
Trump also planned to meet with congressional Republicans as they focus on his and prepare for a potentially unified government with a in the nation’s capital. His visit, amid Republican congressional leadership elections, could put his imprint on the outcome.
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When Trump rolls up to the White House to meet with Biden, Kamala Harris won’t be there
The vice president is spending the morning in meetings at her official residence, according to a person with knowledge of her schedule.
If she does show up later — either at the White House or the adjacent Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where most of her staff works — it likely wouldn’t be until after Trump leaves.
— Chris Megerian
The No. 3 House Republican leader says he expects Trump will deliver a ‘great message’
Tom Emmer of Minnesota says he’s expecting Trump to talk to House Republicans about how to “restart America’s economy by unleashing American energy,” sealing the southern border and removing immigrants who entered illegally under President Biden.
“I expect him to give a great message today, more like a locker room speech getting everybody ready for what’s coming in January,” Emmer said on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends.”
Elon Musk to join Trump for his meeting with House Republicans
Billionaire Elon Musk will join Trump in Washington, according to a Trump aide.
The SpaceX owner, who Trump just named to a government efficiency advisory role in the new administration, is not currently expected to be at Trump’s meeting with Biden at the White House.
Musk will join Trump’s earlier meeting with House Republicans before he and Biden meet in the Oval Office. He’s been a steady presence at Trump’s side since the election.
Wednesday’s meeting puts Biden and Trump together for first time since their June debate
It was Biden’s poor performance at that debate that led Democrats to start pressuring him to drop out and let another candidate take on Trump.
Biden pulled the plug on his campaign weeks later and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. She lost to Trump in last week’s election.
Trump is heading to a big day in Washington
President-elect Donald Trump is on his way to Washington to meet with Republican congressional leaders on Capitol Hill and President Joe Biden at the White House.
Trump’s plane took off from the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, around 7:30 a.m. ET for the roughly two-hour flight to the U.S. capital.
A meeting between the incoming and outgoing president is tradition but then-President Trump didn’t invite Biden to the White House after he lost to the Democrat in 2020.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says it was important to Biden to invite Trump because he believes in the “norms” and a peaceful transfer of power.
Senate Republicans are gathering behind closed doors to pick a new majority leader
Republican senators will gather behind closed doors Wednesday to decide who will replace longtime Senate leader and lead their new majority next year — a decision that could shape the future of the Senate, and the party, as reclaims the presidency.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott have been scrambling to win the most votes in the secret ballot election, promising a new direction in the even as they furiously compete for Trump’s favor. It will be the first test of Trump’s relationship with Congress after he won the election decisively and claimed a mandate for his agenda.
It’s uncertain who will win.
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