President Barack Obama has had what he describes as "an excellent conversation" with Donald Trump inside the White House, as the two former bitter enemies met in person for the first time.
Mr Trump, who has described himself as Mr Obama's "worst nightmare," told the president he was "a very, very good man."
On the campaign trail he repeatedly described him as weak, "a disaster," ineffective and "the most ignorant president in our history.”
On Thursday, however, both men struck a conciliatory note after they met to discuss the transition from one administration to the next.
"We want to do everything we can to help you succeed, because if you succeed we all succeed," said Mr Obama.
There circumstances of the meeting were extraordinary. Mr Trump spent years claiming Mr Obama was born outside the US and was therefore not a legitimate president, while Mr Obama savaged him throughout the campaign as irresponsible and dangerous
Today, they have presented a unified front.
Mr Obama said of the discussion: "It was wide-ranging. We talked about some of the organisational issues in setting up a White House.
"We talked about foreign policy, we talked about domestic policy, and as I said last night, my No. 1 priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our president elect is successful."
"I have been very 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, to work together to deal with the many challenges that we face."
Mr Obama has, eight years ago, been on the opposite side of the process - meeting with George W Bush after running in fierce opposition to the Iraq War and Mr Bush's stewardship of the economy.
Today, they have presented a unified front.
Mr Obama said of the discussion: "It was wide-ranging. We talked about some of the organisational issues in setting up a White House.
"We talked about foreign policy, we talked about domestic policy, and as I said last night, my No. 1 priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our president elect is successful."
"I have been very 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, to work together to deal with the many challenges that we face."
Mr Obama has, eight years ago, been on the opposite side of the process - meeting with George W Bush after running in fierce opposition to the Iraq War and Mr Bush's stewardship of the economy.
Last night protests swept through major US cities with the theme Not My President. In inviting Mr Trump to the White House, Mr Obama is acknowledging what the protesters will not.
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