In the end, they all hugged it out.
Despite bitter rivalries that were still bristling in the hours leading up to Monday’s inauguration, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Jill Biden made nice before the cameras, offering their foes best wishes and hugs as the country transitioned to a new leader.
The niceties came as Joe and Jill Biden left the Capitol shortly after Trump took the oath of office.
As Donald and Melania Trump stood next to the Bides on the steps of the Capitol, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff came up to make their farewells.
Harris shook hands with the Trumps – her first acknowledgement of her presidential rival, whom she pointedly ignored at Jimmy Carter’s state funeral in December.
The interaction was brief, but symbolic. She quickly moved on to hug Joe Biden.
But, even more remarkable, Jill Biden gave Harris a long hug, a gesture coming amid reports of a strained relationship between the two women. The former first lady is said to hold a grudge against Harris going back to the 2020 Democratic primary.
President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden attend a farewell ceremony outside the US Capitol
Both the Bidens and Harris family are angry at the other after Trump’s victory – Harris feels she was short changed by Biden’s July departure from the race, forcing her to mount a fast and furious presidential campaign. Biden feels he could have won and has publicly said so, twisting the knife further into Harris’ side.
However, Monday the two couples seemed wistful as they prepared to leave Washington D.C. after four years in power.
Emhoff followed his wife’s lead, shaking hands with the Trumps and giving a long hug to Jill, whom he is close to.
As the former vice president and second gentleman walked away, Jill wiped her eye.
Then it was time for the Bidens to depart Washington, capping more than 50 years of public service.
The Trumps walked them to the Nighthawk helicopter that is known as Marine One when a president travels on it. Melania hung onto her hat on the windy day.
Trump hugged Jill Biden and then put his arm around Joe Biden, leaning in to speak to him closely. He slapped his arm playfully as Biden smiled at him.
Melania and Jill exchanged a long hug.
Jill Biden gives Kamala Harris a long hung as Joe Biden shakes Doug Emhoff’s hand and Donald Trump watches the goodbyes
Donald Trump chats with Joe Biden and Jill Biden hugs Melania Trump
Second lady Usha Vance, Vice President J.D. Vance, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave Joe and Jill Biden depart the Capitol
The helicopter carrying Joe and Jill Biden leaves the Capitol
The warm goodbye reflected the greeting the Bidens gave the Trumps when they arrived at the White House that morning.
‘Welcome home,’ Biden told Trump.
The two men joked about the weather, a lip-reading expert told DailyMail.com, as they posed for photos on the North Portico of the White House.
‘Let me do my coat up. I’m freezing,’ Trump told Biden.
‘I’m freezing, too,’ Biden replied.
‘Shut up,’ Trump told him as Biden laughed.
The men traveled to the Capitol together in the presidential limo known as The Beast.
Biden watched his successor take the oath of office and then it was time to say goodbye. His bags had been packed. Movers were at the White House, taking out the Bidens’ belongings and moving in the Trump family.
The Bidens boarded their helicopter without looking back.
They flew away, soaring over the White House and passing over the Lincoln Memorial as part of their final journey.
The Trumps and J.D. and Usha Vance stood on Capitol stairs, waving goodbye as it flew away.
Joe and Jill Biden wave goodbye as they board the 747 known as SAM 46
Melania Trump holds on to her hat as Donald Trump talks with Jill Biden
The last of Joe Biden’s White House staff leave the Capitol on Inauguration Day
The helicopter carrying former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden flies over the Lincoln Memorial
The Bidens walk toward their plane
A crowd of longtime Biden staff and supporters awaited the former president at Joint Base Andrews, shouting and cheering as he and Jill walked toward them.
Biden expressed his gratitude for their service.
‘We’re genuinely grateful,’ he said. ‘No president gets to choose the moment they enter history, but they get to choose the team they do it with and we chose the best damn team in the world.’
Biden has repeatedly said he will stay involved in public life – a point he reiterated as he prepared for his next steps, which include establishing his presidential library and reforming the Biden Foundation.
‘We’re leaving office. We’re not leaving the fight,’ he said.
‘I love you all,’ he concluded. ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’
He then spent time talking and taking selfies before boarding the massive blue-and-white 747, walking up its stairs one last time.
This time he and Jill paused, turning to wave goodbye.
The Bidens are headed to Santa Ynez, California, where they spent time in August on vacation.
They will spend time with family. Their son Hunter lives in the state. As does granddaughter Naomi, who gave birth to their first great grand child a few weeks ago.
But their flight will no longer be Air Force One – the designation for the plane that carries the President of the United States.
The flight will simply be known as Special Air Force Mission 46. The number is honor of Biden serving as the 46th president.
