President-elect Donald Trump’s arrival back at the White House led many to speculate that incumbent President Joe Biden had never “been happier in his entire life.”
Putting aside the disputes surrounding the 2020 election and the ongoing divisions stirred by the left in recent years, the leaders of their respective parties set aside their differences and convened at the White House on Wednesday.
The gathering served to both congratulate Trump and promote a “smooth transition” of power, with both leaders seen smiling and sharing laughs beside the Oval Office fireplace.
Biden welcomed his former opponent warmly, stating, “I’d like to do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated — what you need. Welcome. Welcome back.”
Trump responded, “Thank you. Politics is tough and it’s in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today and I appreciate very much a transition that is so smooth it’ll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe.”
Earlier that day, media outlets captured Trump’s return to Washington, D.C., ahead of his inauguration after securing victories in crucial battleground states against Vice President Kamala Harris. The Republicans maintained control over the House of Representatives while regaining the Senate.
Before making his way back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time since January 20, 2021, the president-elect spoke to congressional Republicans at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, remarking, “It’s nice to win. It’s always nice to win. A lot of good friends in this room.”
He added, “We had like historic kind of numbers, especially for the president, but we won’t get into that. But the House did very well, and I think we’re responsible for 31 — helping you with 31 [seats], meaning we could have lost by quite a bit.” Accompanying him was billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is set to collaborate with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in efforts to reduce government waste.
With a playful jab likely to elicit strong reactions from corporate media that have previously accused him of aiming to be a “dictator on day one,” Trump quipped to reporters, “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s good, we got to figure out something else.’”
A light-hearted demeanor from Biden, particularly following the defeat of his running mate, and Jill Biden’s red suit attire on Election Day left many speculating that the couple had crossed party lines in their voting choices. Reactions to the happy president reflected this sentiment as some humorously observed, “He’s unburdened by what has been.”
