1 of 4 | President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday. They talked for 90 minutes on a range of issues as the power transition starts. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI |
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President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump met face-to-face for the first time ever at the White House late Thursday morning, beginning a transition of power that culminates Jan. 20 on Inauguration Day.
In light of a historically bitter campaign and Trump's long but failed effort to prove Obama was not an American citizen, one might have expected the meeting to be tense. UPI director of photography Pat Benic, present in the Oval Office during a photo opportunity, described the tone as "cordial and upbeat."
Trump said he expected the meeting to last 10 or 15 minutes but it stretched to 90 minutes, covering what Obama described as a "wide range" of topics. Trump said "it could have gone on for a lot longer." Trump's wife, Melania Trump, and first lady Michelle Obama also met.
Here's a transcript of what they briefly told members of the press after their meeting:
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, I just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with President-elect Trump. It was wide-ranging. We talked about some of the organizational issues in setting up the White House. We talked about foreign policy. We talked about domestic policy. And as I said last night, my number-one priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our President-elect is successful.
And I have been very encouraged by the, I think, interest in President-elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces. And I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together, to deal with the many challenges that we face.
And in the meantime, Michelle has had a chance to greet the incoming First Lady. And we had an excellent conversation with her as well, and we want to make sure that they feel welcome as they prepare to make this transition.
Most of all, I want to emphasize to you, Mr. President-elect, that we now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed -- because if you succeed, then the country succeeds.
Please.
PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP: Well, thank you very much, President Obama. This was a meeting that was going to last for maybe 10 or 15 minutes, and we were just going to get to know each other. We had never met each other. I have great respect. The meeting lasted for almost an hour and a half. And it could have -- as far as I'm concerned, it could have gone on for a lot longer.
We really -- we discussed a lot of different situations, some wonderful and some difficulties. I very much look forward to dealing with the President in the future, including counsel. He explained some of the difficulties, some of the high-flying assets and some of the really great things that have been achieved.
So, Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you, and I look forward to being with you many, many more times in the future.
