The Beden-Trump meeting: “They discussed important issues of national security and domestic policy facing the country and the world”

The two leaders sat side by side in the Oval Office, an image that was in contrast to the tensions they had in their relations.

The meeting lasted over two hours, White House spokeswoman Karina Jean-Pierre said.

The “was a content meeting,” she told reporters. “They discussed important issues of national security and domestic policy facing the country and the world. ”

Mr. Biden said support for Ukraine was in the interest of national security in the United States, because a strong and stable Europe would avoid America's involvement in war, White House National Security Council Jake Sullivan told reporters.

President-elect Trump has said he can quickly close the Russia-Ukrainian war, but without giving details on how.

Mr. Trump told the newspaper New York Post that he and Mr. Biden “spoke long for the Middle East” in their conversation. I wanted to know his views on the “situation, Trump said. “And he presented them, was very kind,” quoted Mr. Trump as quoting.

Mr. Beden won Mr. Trump's victory in the 2020 elections, but withdrew from the 2024 race in July after a poor showing in the debate against the Republican rival.

He supported Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost in the election.

Our “Our aim is to have a quiet transition, we will do everything we can to secure whatever you need,” President Biden said welcoming President-elect Trump.

“Politics is difficult and often the world is not very beautiful, but today is a beautiful world and I really appreciate a quiet transition. It's going to be very regular and I really appreciate this Joe”, said Mr. Trump, who takes office on January 20th.

Journalists tried to ask questions but were quickly removed from the hall before Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump continued the meeting without their presence.

The meeting was in sharp contrast with the tense relationship the two leaders have had over the years.

Their teams have very different attitudes on politics, on climate change issues, on those related to Russia to trade.

Mr. Biden, 81, has portrayed Mr. Trump as a threat to democracy, while Mr. Trump, 78, has portrayed Mr. Biden as unable.

President-elect Trump has made unconfirmed claims to manipulate the 2020 presidential elections.

The host of the country's next president at the Oval Office by the current president is in the political tradition of the United States, but Mr. Trump skipped this tradition in 2020, when he lost the race for re-election.

“He believes in our standards and institutions, he believes in the peaceful transfer of power“, White House spokeswoman Karina Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday about President Biden's decision to invite Mr. Trump to meet.

“That's what's supposed to happen.“, she added.

Mr. Biden intended to use the meeting to show continuity, but the transition from one administration to another is partially blocked.

According to the White House, Mr. Trump's team has not yet signed the agreement that would enable people of his future administration, access to objects and government information.

“Transition team lawyers Trump-Vance are continuing to engage constructively with the Biden-Haris administration lawyers on all agreements envisioned by the Presidential Transition Act”, said Brian Vance, a spokesman for Mr. Trump's transition, referring to the law regulating the transfer of power.

Valerie Smith Boyd, director of the Partnership Centre for Presidential Transition, a nonprofit organisation that advises future administrations, said the agreement underlines that the United States has only one president until January 20th, as well as includes signing ethical regulations not to benefit from information made available during the transition period.

“This agreement must be signed to initiate interaction with federal agencies“, she said. Everything depends on this “

The odds are that Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump will discuss a host of topics, including foreign policy.

The outgoing president may request Mr. Trump to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. American support for Kiev has been questioned after Mr. Trump's victory.

Meanwhile, the elected president has pledged to end the war soon, but without explaining how he will do so.

Mrs. Jean-Pierre refused to elaborate on issues to be discussed at the meeting between the two leaders.

This will be the first meeting between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump since the debate between them in June, when the democratic president had not yet withdrawn from the race.

Mr. Biden's poor appearance raised concerns among the Democrats over his old age and led to his departure from the presidential race.

After this development, Mrs. Harris was chosen as a candidate of the Democrats for president. She led a brief campaign that ended with her loss on November 5th. / VOA