President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden meet inside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Wednesday as part of what Biden called a peaceful transition of power. Trump also spent time meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The logs were stacked high and flames filled the Oval Office fireplace as President Joe Biden sat next to President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday. Biden smiled and extended his hand in welcome. It was a meeting Biden hoped could bring down the temperature in American politics but the halting introductions betrayed the awkwardness of the moment.