Justtwodaysafterhisstunningelectionvictory,President-electDonaldTrumpandhiswife,MelaniaTrump,visitedtheWhiteHouse,invitedbyPresidentBarackObamaandfirstladyMichelleObama.
NopresswasallowedtofilmtheirarrivalThursday,butthepresidentandthepresident-electgavebriefstatementstoreportersintheOvalOfficeafterthemeeting.
DespitealonghistoryofanimositybetweenObamaandTrump,bothweregracious.
"IjusthadtheopportunitytohaveanexcellentconversationwithPresident-electTrump,”Obamasaid.“Itwaswide-ranging.WetalkedaboutsomeoftheorganizationalissuesinsettinguptheWhiteHouse;wetalkedaboutforeignpolicy,wetalkedaboutdomesticpolicy,and,asIsaidlastnight,mynumberonepriorityinthecomingtwomonthsistotrytofacilitateatransitionthatinsuresourpresident-electissuccessful."
Trumptoldreportersthemeetingwassupposedtolastabouttenminutesbutlasted90,anditcouldhavegoneonevenlonger.
"Ilookforwardtodealingwiththepresidentinthefuture,includingcounsel,"hesaid."Heexplainedsomeofthedifficultiesandthehigh-flyingassetsandsomeofthewonderfulthingsthathavebeenachieved.Mr.President,itwaswonderfulmeetingwithyouandIlookforwardtomeetingwithyoumanymoretimesinthefuture."
TheWhiteHousesaidObamaofficialsaremakingsurethatTrumpandhisyet-to-be-namedkeyofficialsare"preparedfromdayonetoprotectournationalsecurity."U.S.intelligenceanddefenseofficialsarestartingtogiveTrumpdailybriefingsonthreatstothecountry'ssecurityandoverseasmilitaryoperations.
Inaddition,theObamaadministrationplanstohosttwoexercisesinvolvingseveralgovernmentagenciestohelpfamiliarizeTrumpofficialswithhowthegovernmentrespondstodomesticemergencies,whetherterroristattacksorsuchnaturaldisastersasviolenttornadoesandhurricanes.
