Trump meets with Obama at the White House as whirlwind transition starts - Washingtonpost

President-elect Donald Trump and President Obama met for the first time Thursday and pledged to work together, starting the whirlwind transition that will unfold over the next 10 weeks until Trump is sworn into office Jan. 20.

Trump later met with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) at the Capitol and said they also would work together — but on Republican goals that are opposed by Obama and his fellow Democrats. "We're going to lower taxes," Trump told reporters, with Ryan seated by his side. "We're going to fix health care and make it affordable and better."

He appeared to be referring to a plan to lower taxes that heavily benefits top earners and to the GOP's aim of repealing the Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature domestic policy achievement.

An hour and a half after Trump entered the White House through the South Lawn entrance — avoiding news cameras and the president's staff — a group of reporters was ushered into the Oval Office, where the president and president-elect were seated in the high-backed armchairs at the end of the room.

“As far as I'm concerned, it could have lasted a lot longer,” Trump said. “We discussed a lot of different situations, some wonderful and some difficulties. I very much look forward to dealing with the president in the future, including counsel.”

“So Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you, and I look forward to being with you many, many more times in the future,” he added, calling Obama “a very good man.” 

Obama, for his part, said, he was encouraged by "the interest in President-elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces. And I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together, to deal with the many challenges that we face.” - Read More

Trump meets with Obama at the White House as whirlwind transition starts