Biden says he's thankful for 'peaceful transition' of power

President Biden said he is thankful for a “peaceful transition” of power, among other things, during his visit to a fire department in Massachusetts on Thanksgiving. 

The commander in chief said Thursday he was thankful for “my family, the peaceful transition of the presidency, and I'm thankful by the grace of God we were able to make more progress in the Middle East, I'm really thankful for being able to get the first peace done in Lebanon,” when asked about it, according to the pool report. He was referencing the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon that Washington brokered. 

He added that he was "thankful to Americans. ... There is nothing beyond our capacity." 

Biden was visiting a fire station in Nantucket, Mass., on Thursday. His remarks on the presidential transfer of power came less than two weeks after President-elect Trump had a meeting with Biden at the White House that lasted just under two hours. 

Following Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election over Vice President Harris, the president pledged to follow tradition and make sure there was a smooth transition of power. 

He alluded to it in Thursday’s remarks, saying he wanted to make sure “this transition goes smoothly. I want to make sure it goes smoothly. All the talk about what [Trump] may do or not do — I think there may be an internal reckoning on his part. ... So it remains to be seen."

Trump did not offer the same meeting to Biden four years ago when he defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Despite their past, Biden and Trump had a “very cordial, very gracious” meeting, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. 

“Congratulations, and I look forward to having a smooth transition,” Biden told Trump during their meeting in the Oval Office. 

“It will be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe,” Trump said in response.