Donald Trump and Joe Biden have shaken hands at a meeting in the White House - with both men promising a smooth transition of power in January.

The US president greeted his successor to the White House with a handshake, saying "welcome back".

The pair sat down together in the Oval Office with the president-elect thanking President Biden for a "smooth transition of power".

"[I'm] looking forward to having a, like we said, smooth transition," President Biden said.

"We'll do everything we can to make sure you're accommodated with what you need - welcome."

President-elect Trump thanked him, saying "politics is tough, and it's many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much, a transition that's so smooth it'll be as smooth as it can get".

The president-elect is also having talks with other Republican politicians.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden take part in the 2024 CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta, 27/6/24. Image: Will Lanzoni/CNN