On Wednesday, Donald Trump, the president-elect, and Joe Biden, the outgoing 46th President of the United States, met for the first time after the elections in the Oval Office.

The scene captured by Reuters, with a warm fire in the background, seemed to ease the tension of a campaign period marked by near-assassination attempts.

Joe Biden, who had portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy during the campaign, expressed his hopes for a 'seamless transition' at the meeting.

Trump, set to assume office on January 20, thanked Biden for ensuring a smooth handover.

First Lady Jill Biden also welcomed Trump and delivered a handwritten congratulatory letter to Melania Trump, offering assistance with the transition.

Prior to the meeting, Trump celebrated his victory with Republican House representatives, who are expected to hold control of the House following the November 5 election results.

Despite these celebrations, Trump's team has yet to finalize agreements for the transition of office space and government resources.

The event marked a significant moment of political civility between the longtime rivals.