Donald Trump and Joe Biden exchanged smiles for the cameras as they met at the White House on Monday morning ahead of the president-elect formally taking power.
The president-elect and Melania Trump walked up the front stairs hand-in-hand, where President Biden and first lady Jill Biden awaited them.
‘Welcome home,’ Biden told Trump.
The two couples shook hands and briefly posed for pictures, looking visibly cold in the wind. Unlike eight years ago, when Melania arrived with a gift wrapped in Tiffany blue for Michelle Obama, she was empty-handed when she greeted Jill Biden.
The two couples will enjoy coffee and tea before riding to the Capitol together for Trump’s inauguration.
Ahead of Trump’s arrival, Biden told reporters he was feeling ‘good. It’s a beautiful day.’ He said his message for the day was ‘joy.’
He and wife Jill Biden took one last selfie outside of the Oval Office before departing the building, posting it to the White House social media accounts.
Before the Trumps arrived, incoming Vice President J.D. Vance and wife Usha were greeted at the White House by outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
‘Congratulations,’ Harris told Vance. She had declined to host him at the vice presidential residence ahead of his swearing-in ceremony.
Harris, who lost to Trump in a landslide, described today as ‘democracy in action.’
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greet President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump as they arrive at the White House
Usha Vance, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect JD Vance at the White House
Melania Trump hangs on to her hat on the windy day
‘Welcome home,’ President Joe Biden told incoming President Donald Trump
Melania Trump and Jill Biden walk into the White House together
Donald Trump kicked off the ceremonies for his historic second inauguration alongside wife Melania, son Barron and his family at a church service just hours before meeting the Bidens at the White House.
The president-elect took the front row of St. John’s Episcopal Church – just a block away from the White House – and smiled to his Vice President J.D. Vance, who was sat alongside wife Usha.
The president-elect, wearing a suit and dark red tie, shook his fist to photographers as he stepped out of the crowd. Melania, in a navy blue suit and matching hat with white trim, was at his side. Their son Barron walked with them.
The Trump family joined them inside the church – Ivanka and Jared Kushner and their kids; Don Jr., his ex-wife Vanessa and their kids; Tiffany Trump and husband Michael Boulos; and Eric and Lara Trump and their two children.
Incoming Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha sat in the front pew with Donald, Melania and Barron.
Also in the church were Rupert Murdoch, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, Sean Duffy, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Elon Musk, Rep. Mike Waltz, Pam Bondi, Howard Lutnick, Doug Burgum, and Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Donald and Melania Trump walk up the stairs of the White House to meet Joe and Jill Biden
J.D. Vance and Usha Vance walk up the White House stairs to greet Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff
Melania Trump and President-elect Donald Trump are greeted by Rev. Robert W. Fisher as they arrive for service at St. John’s Church
Barron Trump follows parents Melania Trump and Donald Trump into church
Donald Trump chats with J.D. Vance and Usha Vance as Melania and Baron look on
Trump’s swearing-in has been moved inside the Capitol rotunda due to the below-freezing weather and cold winds in Washington D.C. Much of the ground is frozen and icy from Sunday’s rain and snow fall.
Biden and Trump haven’t spoken since shortly after the election, when Biden welcomed the president-elect to the Oval Office.
Trump, in the interim, has blasted the outgoing president for being ‘sneaky’ during the transition process by setting up a series of roadblocks designed to hinder his first days in office.
Biden, for his part, started off the morning with a series of preemptive pardons for those who might face Trump retribution: General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Rep. Liz Cheney.
He got a final security briefing as commander in chief. After Trump is sworn in, the Bidens will board Marine One at the Capitol and head to Joint Base Andrews, where Biden will give farewell remarks. The couple then heads to California for some time with family.
President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump, Victor Knavs arrive for a service at St. John’s Church – at left are Vice President-elect JD Vance and Usha Vance
Meta and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (L) CEO of Apple Tim Cook, Founder of Amazon and Blue Origin Jeff Bezos at church with Trump
Ivanka Trump with her children
Melania Trump wears a navy suit and hat as she enters church with Donald Trump
US Vice President-elect JD Vance and Usha Vance and the rest of the guests at St. John’s Episcopal Church wait for Donald Trump’s arrival
Ivanka Trump with Arabella, Joseph and Theodore
Tiffany Trump with husband Michael Boulos – the couple is expecting their first child
Trump has been in Washington D.C. since Saturday, celebrating his second term in office. He and his supporters celebrated with fireworks at his Trump Golf Club in Sterling, Va.
On Sunday, he addressed supporters at a rally at the Capitol One Arena. And then he joined supporters at a candlelight dinner.
When Trump returns to the White House on Monday afternoon, it will be as president of the United States.
He plans an immediate blitz of executive orders, designed to overturn many Biden initiatives. He’ll have a crackdown on illegal immigration, put tariffs on trading partners and pardon supporters who were prosecuted for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
