Watch the moment Joe Biden shakes hands with Donald Trump in the Oval Office with both pledging a smooth transition from Democrat to Republican.
Trump won the race to the White House and will be inaugurated on January 20.
The 78-year-old Republican won resoundingly against the candidate who Biden backed after exiting the presidential contest, Kamala Harris.
The handshake comes after a bitter race which saw both sides trade a slew of insults.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden shook hands and pledged a peaceful transition of power
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But Trump eventually came out on top, winning both the Electoral College and the popular vote after months of polls failing to separate the pair.
The 78-year-old Republican won resoundingly against the candidate who Biden backed after exiting the presidential contest, Kamala Harris.
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Trump won the US election in resounding fashion
Reuters
Discussing the transition of power, Trump said “it’ll be as smooth as it can get”.
Biden delivered a similar sentiment, saying he would do all he could to “make sure you’re accomodated”.
The Democrat, 81, has often painted Trump as a threat to democracy while Trump has suggested Biden is incapable of carrying out the tasks associated with being president.
Trump’s motorcade rolled through the heavily guarded White House gate and the former and future Republican president was greeted in the Oval Office by Biden, a Democrat who defeated him in the 2020 election.
Joe Biden promised a smooth transition of power
CBS NEWS
Trump celebrated his victory earlier in the day with Republicans in the House of Representatives who have a good chance of maintaining control of the chamber as Nov. 5 election results trickle in.
“Isn’t it nice to win? It’s nice to win. It’s always nice to win,” Trump said. “The House did very well.”
Trump’s motorcade rolled through the heavily guarded White House gate and the former and future Republican president was greeted in the Oval Office by Biden, a Democrat who defeated him in the 2020 election.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said of Biden’s decision to invite Trump: “He believes in the norms, he believes in our institution, he believes in the peaceful transfer of power.”