Joe Biden has welcomed his long-time nemesis, Donald Trump, back to the White House for an undoubtedly uncomfortable Oval Office meeting to discuss the transition of power.
The president and the president-elect exchanged cordial remarks in front of the cameras on Wednesday morning, local time, committing to a smooth handover after Trump's decisive election win.
"Well, Mr President-elect and former president and Donald, congratulations," Mr Biden said as he shook Trump's hand.
"Looking forward to having a, like we said, smooth transition — do everything we can to make sure you're accommodated … welcome back," Mr Biden said.
"Thank you very much," Trump replied.
"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's so smooth it'll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe."
Trump later told the New York Post that he and Mr Biden "both really enjoyed seeing each other".
"I asked for his views and he gave them to me," Trump said.
"Also, we talked very much about the Middle East, likewise.
"I wanted to know his views on where we are and what he thinks. And he gave them to me, he was very gracious."
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the meeting, which lasted almost two hours, was gracious and substantive.
Trump "came with a detailed set of questions" and discussed national security and domestic issues with Mr Biden, she said.
"The length of the meeting tells you that they had an in-depth conversation on an array of issues.
"The president is always going to, obviously, keep that line of communication open to the president-elect."
The meeting took place during Trump's first return to Washington DC since his election victory, on what was another eventful day in the US capital.
More loyalists given key roles
Trump later announced several key appointments to his future administration, continuing to reward those who showed him loyalty during his election campaign.
In a surprise move, he named right-wing congressman Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney-general – giving him powers over the operation of the Department of Justice, which has pursued Trump for prosecution in multiple criminal matters.
"Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan weaponisation of our justice system," Trump wrote on social media.
"Matt will end weaponised government, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organisations and restore Americans' badly-shattered faith and confidence in the Justice Department."
Mr Gaetz is currently facing an Ethics Committee investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and accepting improper gifts, among other allegations. He denies all wrongdoing.
Trump also confirmed rumours that he would nominate Florida senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state.
And he said former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic Party defector who recently joined the Republicans, would become director of national intelligence.
Ms Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Reserve who has served in the Middle East and Africa, but she does not have direct experience in intelligence.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans voted for John Thune to become their new leader in the chamber, replacing Mitch McConnell when he steps down from the role in January.
Senator Thune is seen as an "institutionalist" Republican who has served for more than two decades. Some Trump allies had instead backed hardline conservative Rick Scott, who is more closely aligned with the party's MAGA wing, for the leadership role.
After the vote, Senator Thune said the "Republican team is united behind President Trump's agenda, and our work starts today".
Rudd's troll wins White House gig
The meeting between Trump and Mr Biden, which took place by a roaring fire on a cold Washington morning, marked a return to a tradition in US politics.
Trump did not extend a similar invitation to Mr Biden after the 2020 vote when he refused to concede defeat and made baseless claims about the election being stolen.
The returning first lady, Melania Trump, declined an invitation. CNN is reporting she is unlikely to move back to the White House full-time.
Her outgoing predecessor, Jill Biden, gave Trump a handwritten letter in which she congratulated Melania Trump and expressed her team's readiness to help with the transition, the White House said.
Before the meeting, Trump announced more appointments to senior White House roles.
They included Dan Scavino, an adviser to Trump's election campaign who worked in his previous administration. He will serve as an assistant to the president and a White House deputy chief of staff, Trump said.
Mr Scavino made headlines in Australia this week when he sent what looked like an ominous message to Australia's ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd.
After Mr Rudd posted to X congratulating Trump on his win, Mr Scavino responded with an image of an hourglass. It was widely interpreted to mean he was suggesting Mr Rudd had limited time left in his role because he had insulted Trump on social media in the past.
In the posts, made before Mr Rudd became ambassador, he described Trump as "the most destructive president in history" and "a traitor to the West".
Earlier this year, after Trump was asked about Mr Rudd's comments in a TV interview, Trump said: "He won't be there long if that's the case."
Mr Rudd deleted the posts earlier this week.
Trump announced three other deputy chiefs of staff who all also worked in senior positions on his election campaign. They are Stephen Miller, James Blair and Taylor Budowich.
Earlier, Trump met with Republicans in the House of Representatives. Results in house races are still being counted, but the Republican Party appears to have a good chance of maintaining control of the chamber, and therefore all of the US Congress.
"Isn't it nice to win? It's nice to win, it's always nice to win," Trump said. "The House did very well."
