President Biden’s first words to Donald Trump as he greets him at the White House ahead of inauguration

Donald Trump has arrived at the U.S. Capitol, where he will soon be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States during an indoor inauguration ceremony.

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Biden and Trump met for tea ahead of the latter’s inauguration. Credit: Andrew Harnik / Getty

This historic event marks Trump’s return to office for a second term and takes place in the Capitol rotunda, a shift indoors due to the bitter cold — making it the coldest inauguration since 1985.

Trump and Biden Share Tea in Tradition

Ahead of the ceremony, Trump and first lady Melania Trump were welcomed to the White House by outgoing President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. The meeting continues a time-honored tradition of the outgoing president hosting their successor for tea before the inauguration.

In a show of bipartisanship, Biden greeted the Trumps warmly, reportedly saying, “Welcome home!” according to PEOPLE.

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Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

After tea, the two couples traveled together to the inauguration in the same vehicle, breaking with the usual protocol of using separate cars. Despite their differing political views and past tensions, the Bidens and Trumps appeared to set aside their differences for the occasion.

This moment is a stark contrast to 2021, when Trump, after losing the election, skipped Biden’s inauguration and declined to welcome him to the White House. Instead, the former president left Washington, D.C., for Florida on the morning of Inauguration Day.

A Historic Swearing-In Ceremony

As well as Joe Biden, tech billionaires, cabinet nominees, and former presidents are among the high-profile attendees at today’s inauguration. The indoor ceremony is the first of its kind in decades, reflecting both the frigid temperatures and a new chapter in American politics.

As Trump prepares to take the oath of office, he has laid out ambitious plans for his second term. One of his key promises is to delay the recently enacted TikTok ban, which briefly went into effect over the weekend before being lifted.

Biden’s Final Acts as President

In his last hours as president, Biden issued a series of preemptive pardons, cementing his legacy as he handed over the reins to Trump.

The ceremonial traditions, warm exchanges, and political promises make this inauguration a momentous occasion in U.S. history, as Trump once again takes the highest office in the nation.