‘Welcome back’: Trump, Biden shake hands in White House

WASHINGTON: Joe Biden welcomed Donald Trump back to the White House on Wednesday, in a show of civility to a bitter rival who failed to extend him the same courtesy four years ago.

The US president and president-elect shook hands in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office as they pledged a smooth transition -- a stark contrast to Trump´s refusal to recognize his 2020 defeat.

“Welcome back,” Biden, 81, said as he congratulated the 78-year-old Trump and offered brief opening remarks to the man he has repeatedly slammed as a threat to democracy.

Biden, who dropped out of the election in July but saw his successor Kamala Harris lose to Trump last week, said he was “looking forward to having a smooth transition” and pledged to do “everything we can to make sure you´re accommodated.”

As the two presidents with a combined age of 159 years shook hands, Biden appeared to look down while Trump leaned forward and looked him in the eyes.

Trump riled up a mob that attacked the US Capitol in 2021 and ran a brutal and divisive election campaign this year -- but sought to strike a gracious tone on his return visit to the White House.

“Politics is tough, and in many cases it´s not a very nice world. It is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much,” Trump said.

Trump added that the transfer of power would be “smooth as you can get” -- despite the fact that his transition team has not yet signed some key legal documents ahead of his inauguration as president on January 20.

An ebullient Trump suggested that he could even be open to a third term in office -- which would violate the US constitution.

“I suspect I won´t be running again unless you say, ´He´s good, we got to figure something else,´” he said, drawing some laughter.

Trump nominated Fox News host and army veteran Pete Hegseth as his incoming defence secretary. An opponent of so-called “woke” ideology in the armed forces, Hegseth has little experience similar to managing the world´s most powerful military.

Trump named South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem -- an ally who famously wrote about shooting her dog because it did not respond to training -- as head of the Department of Homeland Security.