The transition of power to President-elect Trump begins

World Today

President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The meeting between President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday was the first in a series of events in the transition of power at the White House.

As mandated by the President Transition Act of 1963, the incumbent president—currently President Obama and his administration are charged with ensuring the transition between their presidency and the next.

“The national interest requires that such transitions in the office of President be accomplished so as to assure continuity in the faithful execution of the laws and in the conduct of the affairs of the Federal Government, both domestic and foreign,” the Act read. “Any disruption occasioned by the transfer of the executive power could produce results detrimental to the safety and well-being of the United States and its people,” it continued.

The period of transition begins right after the election results name the new U.S. president and ends once the newly elected president takes office on January 20.

“I want to emphasize to you, Mr. President-elect, that we now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed — because if you succeed, then the country succeeds,” President Obama said to Trump during their meeting at the White House, which lasted over an hour.

During the 70-some days between the presidential election and the new administration, the “presidential transition team” that was named by the presidential nominee will help with the transition. For the newly-named President-elect Trump, the transition team has already been named, and have been working to outline the policy and logistical groundwork for his presidency.

While President Obama hosted President-elect Trump in the Oval Office today for a meeting, First Lady Michelle Obama took Melania Trump on a tour of the White House. However, the two will likely meet again at the White House so that the future First Lady can submit her requests for her family’s preferences of food, soaps, décor, and other household details.

For Trump, who has been active on Twitter throughout his campaign, the transition also involves the social media platform, with tweets from the newly formed “The Transition Team” Twitter account. The Twitter account links out to President-elect Trump’s new website.