Press. voanews.com
Just two
days after his stunning election victory, President-elect Donald Trump and his
wife, Melania Trump, visited the White House, invited by President Barack Obama
and first lady Michelle Obama. No press was allowed to film their arrival
Thursday, but the president and the president-elect gave brief statements to
reporters in the Oval Office after the meeting.
Despite a
long history of animosity between Obama and Trump, both were gracious.
"I
just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with President-elect
Trump,” Obama said. “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
insures our president-elect is successful."
Trump
told reporters the meeting was supposed to last about ten minutes but lasted
90, and it could have gone on even longer. "I look forward to dealing with
the president in the future, including counsel," he said. "He
explained some of the difficulties and the high-flying assets and some of the
wonderful things that have been achieved. Mr. President, it was wonderful
meeting with you and I look forward to meeting with you many more times in the
future."
The White
House said Obama officials are making sure that Trump and his yet-to-be-named
key officials are "prepared from day one to protect our national
security." U.S. intelligence and defense officials are starting to give
Trump daily briefings on threats to the country's security and overseas
military operations.
In
addition, the Obama administration plans to host two exercises involving
several government agencies to help familiarize Trump officials with how the
government responds to domestic emergencies, whether terrorist attacks or such
natural disasters as violent tornadoes and hurricanes.
'Less
awkward' than expected
After the
meeting, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest was asked if the meeting was
awkward. "The meeting might have been a little less awkward than some
might have expected," he said.
Trump
said it was the first time the two men have met personally.
The
president campaigned exceptionally hard for his former secretary of state and
fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton. Obama often derided Trump, the blunt-spoken
real estate mogul who has never held elected office, as unfit to lead the
country.
Meanwhile,
Trump for years questioned whether Obama was born in the U.S. before recently
acknowledging his citizenship. He says he plans to undermine key Obama
policies, including the health care reforms, environmental regulations,
protection of some immigrants from deportation, and the Iran nuclear deal. Despite
the bitter campaign, Obama pledged Wednesday to cooperate with Trump's
takeover.
"It
is no secret that the president-elect and I have some pretty significant
differences," Obama said. "But remember, eight years ago, President
[George W.] Bush and I had some pretty significant differences. But President
Bush's team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making
sure we had a smooth transition."
Obama
said he is rooting for Trump's success and has ordered the White House team
"to work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a successful
transition for the president-elect."
Secretary
of State John Kerry cited the tradition of peaceful changes in leadership as he
congratulated Trump on Thursday and wished him well for the "enormous
challenges that he will undertake."
"With
a transition like this, the issues that we face don't go away," Kerry said
during a visit to New Zealand. "The values with which we face them are the
same values the day after the election that they were the day before."
Meeting
with Congressional leaders
While in
Washington, Trump also met with House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, leaders of the Republican majorities in
each chamber, about their legislative plans. Both gave tepid support to Trump
during the election, but have vowed to work in concert with him to pass the
party's agenda.
The most
prominent Republican effort will be to unwind and replace the Affordable Care
Act, the outgoing president's health care program, known as Obamacare, that
helped 20 million people get health insurance.
First
lady, tour and tea
Earnest
said first lady Michelle Obama showed future first lady Melania Trump the
private quarters, and they had tea. He said they talked about the special
challenges of raising children in the White House. The
Obamas have raised their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, in the White House.
Donald and Melania Trump have a 10-year-old son, Barron, who will likely grow
up in the White House, as well.