President Barack Obama and his incoming successor Donald Trump met for about 90 minutes in what was described as an “excellent” first meeting between the two men Thursday.
Trump, even-keeled and complimentary of the president, was enthusiastic about the encounter in a brief availability with the press inside the Oval Office after the conclusion of the discussion.
“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,” Trump said. “I have great respect. The meeting lasted for almost an hour and a half, and it could’ve lasted, as far as I’m concerned, for a lot longer.”
Obama said he and Trump discussed organizational issues with the presidential transition, as well as foreign and domestic policy. “And as I said last night,” Obama said of his remarks in the Rose Garden Wednesday, “my number-one priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our president-elect is successful.”
He added he was “very encouraged” by early signals from Trump that he wants to work with the president and his staff on substantive issues, concluding that “if you succeed, then the country succeeds.”
Trump was receptive, speaking in a diplomatic tone and language that, at least publicly, Obama has received well since the Republican was declared the winner of the election overnight Wednesday.
“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 different things that have been achieved,” Trump said. He called the president a “very good man” as the noise of flashbulbs and reporters’ questions filled the room upon Obama declaring the meeting over.
“Here’s a good rule: Don’t answer their questions when they just start yelling,” Obama joked to Trump.
It was the first time the two men have met in-person, potentially setting up an awkward encounter given Trump’s past role in the birther movement and Obama’s harsh, uncompromising rhetoric against Trump in the hectic closing weeks of the campaign. But there were no signs of tension on display Thursday—the same day that an initial list of Trump’s cabinet considerations was published by BuzzFeed.
