Joe Biden and Donald Trump meet at the White House

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TRANSCRIPT
U-S President Joe Biden has held his long-awaited meeting with his successor Donald Trump at the White House, after the latter’s overwhelming victory in the U-S presidential election.
The two men discussed issues such as the situation in the Middle East and other matters affecting the country.
They have both given their pledge for a seamless transition of power in the United States.
JOE BIDEN: “Well Mr. President-elect and former president, Donald, congratulations and looking forward to like we said, a smooth transition, do everything we can to make sure you’re accommodated, with you what you need. And we’re going to get a chance to talk about some of that today. So welcome.”
DONALD TRUMP: “Thank you very much. Politics is tough, and it’s in many cases it’s not a nice world, but it is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much – a transition that’s so smooth it’ll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has described the discussion between the current and upcoming U-S leaders as substantive and cordial.
“So today, President Biden met with president elect Trump for approximately two hours in the Oval Office. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles joined the meeting. It was a substantive meeting and exchange of views. They discussed important national security and domestic policy issues facing the nation and the world. President Biden also raised important items on Congress’s to do list for the lame duck session, including funding the government and providing the disaster supplemental funding the president requested.”
It comes as Donald Trump continues the announcement of names for people set to take part in his administration.
Among the most recent to be named for a crucial role is Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, who Trump chose for the position of Attorney General.
Gaetz’s nomination has sparked controversy, as he is still under investigation from an Ethics Committee for several violations, including sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
In a written statement, Mr Trump shared his praise for Mr Gaetz’s abilities and his belief that he will help restore people’s faith in the U-S justice system.
“Matt will end Weaponised Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organisations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department. On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponisation. He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law.”
Mr Trump has also named Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio for the key role of U-S Secretary of State.
Mr Rubio was a former opponent of Mr Trump for the 2016 presidential candidacy but eventually dropped out and endorsed the eventual winner of the U-S elections.
Since then, he has been a supporter of the Republican leader, giving his endorsement to Mr Trump for the 2024 elections.
Following his nomination, Mr Rubio says he would be honoured to take up the position.
“It’s a tremendous honour to the president who places his confidence in me in a position of such importance. It’s also a tremendous responsibility. And the job of the secretary of state is to execute on the foreign policy set by the elected president of the United States. And I hope to have the opportunity to do it, if my current colleagues here in the U.S. Senate confirm me .”
When asked about the nomination of Matt Gaetz for the role of Attorney General, Senator Rubio was evasive.
“I think the president is entitled to his team and he’s made his appointments. And, so, I like Matt a lot. I know him very well, and I’m confident that if the Senate confirms him, he would do a good job. And again, presidents are entitled to have the people that they want in these key positions to carry out the mandate that’s been delivered to him by the voters of the United States.”
Also among those who have also received nominations from president-elect Trump overnight are former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Fox News host Pete Hegseth.
Ms Gabbard has been named for the role of Director of U-S National Intelligence.
She was a member of the Democratic party but became an independent in 2022.
She announced she would be joining the Republicans last October, giving her support to Donald Trump.
“And specifically because of the leadership that President Trump has brought to transform the Republican Party and bring it back to the party of the people and the party of peace that I’m proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I’m joining the Republican Party.”
Meanwhile, former infantry captain Pete Hegseth is another choice of Mr Trump’s that has raised many questions.
Mr Hegseth, who was nominated for Secretary of Defence, is a hardline war veteran who has been critical of the Pentagon’s position, and has questioned the role of women on the front lines of combat.
Journalist Tara Copp from the Associated Press says there is a chance the U-S Senate may not approve Mr Hegseth’s nomination.
“So late last night, my colleagues and I were on the phone with Pentagon officials, defence experts, members of the Hill, and there was some question as to whether Hegseth could get confirmed. He lacks the senior experience that you would expect in the role of defense secretary, which is in the line of succession and operates an 800 billion plus budget and represents more than 2 million members of the armed services.”
Earlier this week, Mr Trump announced the formation of the Department of Government Efficiency – more commonly known as DOGE.
This new agency, spearheaded by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, will not be an official part of the U-S government.
Rather, it will operate as an advisory board in a bid to dismantle bureaucracy and reduce unnecessary spending.
It appears Mr Trump’s Republican Party will control both houses of the legislature, as well the as executive branch.
After they gained control of the Senate and Mr Trump claimed victory in the presidential elections, the Republican party is projected to win the 218 seats necessary to have the majority in the House of Representatives.
It’s something Mr Trump has told his fellow Republicans he’s very grateful for.
“Well, thank you very much. This is a very nice gathering. Isn’t it nice to win? It’s nice to win. It’s always nice to win. A lot of good friends in this room. So, you know we had, like, historic kind of numbers. Especially for the President, but we won’t get into that.”
Paving the way to make all of Mr Trump’s ambitions turn into reality.