President Obama has invited President-elect Donald Trump to meet with him to discuss the handover of power from his administration to Trump’s.
Speaking from the White House a day after the election, Obama said of his successor, “We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country.”
The White House said Obama called Trump in the early hours of November 9 to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential campaign. The two leaders plan to meet November 10 at the White House, where Obama is to update Trump about ongoing planning for the transition.
Obama vowed to do all he could to ensure a smooth transition. “We all want what’s best for this country,” Obama said.
Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, described the call between Obama and Trump as a “warm conversation” and a “gracious exchange.” She said Trump had missed the president’s original call, as Trump was speaking to supporters in New York, then called him back after leaving the stage.
Obama also called Hillary Clinton after it became clear she’d lost the race. The White House said Obama “expressed admiration for the strong campaign she waged throughout the country.”
