American newspapers and official statements revealed the most important files discussed in the meeting between US President Joe Biden and his elected successor, Donald Trump, who is preparing to return to the White House next January to serve a second four-year term.

The meeting between Biden and Trump yesterday, Wednesday, was marked by "respect" and "friendliness," according to what the White House announced. It was the first between them since Trump's re-election, as they pledged a smooth transition of power.

A White House spokeswoman said the nearly two-hour meeting was "very proper" and "very cordial" and "incredibly productive."

Trump left the White House at the beginning of 2021 defeated and angry, and was visited on Wednesday by a president-elect whose party also won a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The two men shook hands in the Oval Office. Trump said the transition would be "as smooth as possible," adding, "Politics is hard and it's not a pretty place. But it's a pretty place right now, and I appreciate that."

For his part, Biden, who has repeatedly stressed over the past years that Trump poses a threat to democracy, said, "We will do everything we can to make sure that you get everything you need."

Reporters raised their voices with questions but were quickly removed.

Middle East and Ukraine

The New York Post reported that Trump said that he and President Joe Biden "talked a lot about the Middle East" during their meeting at the White House.

"I wanted to know his perspective on where we are and what he sees. He gave it to me, and he was very nice," Trump was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

In turn, Axios quoted US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as saying that Biden discussed with Trump the issue of Israeli detainees in Gaza. He said that Trump's team is ready to cooperate with the next administration to promote the release of the hostages in Gaza.

Biden also made clear that supporting Ukraine was in the U.S. national security interest because "a strong and stable Europe will prevent the United States from being dragged into a war," Sullivan told reporters. Trump has vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly, without explaining how.

Democrat Biden defeated Republican Trump in the 2020 election but dropped out of the 2024 race in July after a disastrous debate. Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee but lost to Trump.

Although welcoming the president-elect to the White House is a traditional courtesy, Trump did not do so when Biden won in 2020.

The meeting was a stark contrast to the sharp criticism the two men have been exchanging for years.

Biden, 81, has often portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy, while Trump, 78, has portrayed him as incompetent. Trump has repeatedly made allegations of widespread fraud after losing the 2020 election to Biden.