World
November 13, 2024 18:10
washington - Former President Donald Trump visits the White House and meets with President Joe Biden in a historic tradition, despite tensions between the two in the past.
Former President Donald Trump made a triumphant return to Washington, meeting with Republican Congress members before heading to the White House where he was welcomed by President Joe Biden. Melania Trump, his wife, was noticeably absent.
The 78-year-old Trump was invited by current President Joe Biden, 81, in a gesture of honoring tradition, despite Trump's refusal to welcome Biden in 2020 after the latter won the presidential elections.
After a private meeting, the press was allowed into the Oval Office. Biden greeted his successor, expressing his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. Trump thanked Biden, stating 'Politics is tough, but today is a beautiful day.'
Biden and Trump appeared relaxed, sitting by a fireplace. They did not answer any questions from the press and shared a laugh as the reporters tried to get a reaction. Melania declined an invitation from First Lady Jill Biden, citing obligations related to her book tour, although reports suggest she was actually upset over an FBI raid at their residence in Mar-a-Lago in 2022, concerning a case related to withheld state secrets. A spokesperson for Melania dismissed these reports as inaccurate.
The outgoing First Lady seems to be facing isolation, as seen in a recent viral video showing a chilly encounter between Jill Biden and the defeated Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during a ceremony for Veterans Day. The tension between the Vice President and the First Lady dates back to party discord leading to Biden withdrawing from running for a second term as president.
During the meeting with Congress members, Trump jokingly remarked that this was his last campaign unless 'you all do something', which was met with laughter. Elon Musk was also present at the meeting in the Capitol. Incoming Vice President JD Vance participated in discussions about the selection of a Republican majority leader in the Senate. Republicans regained the majority from Democrats on November 5th, and the counting of votes continues in some districts in the House of Representatives, where Republicans are just two seats away from the majority with twelve seats yet to be determined.
Aside from the political developments, there are legal updates regarding Trump. Special prosecutor Jack Smith, who is leading two cases against Trump, announced his resignation before January 20, the day of Trump's inauguration, to prevent being ousted by the president-elect, as promised during the campaign. With Smith's departure, the federal cases against the businessman will come to an end.