Donald Trump is meeting Joe Biden at the White House to discuss the presidential transition. Biden told the president-elect "welcome back" as the pair shook hands
At the start of the traditional Oval Office meeting, both men said they hoped for a "smooth" presidential transition after a "tough" political campaign
Across Washington at the Capitol, Senate Republicans have elected John Thune as their new majority leader, to replace retiring Senator Mitch McConnell
Meanwhile, Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency"
And he has chosen Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army veteran, as defence secretary, along with John Ratcliffe as head of the CIA – the contours of Trump's second presidency are starting to take shape, writes Anthony Zurcher
This video can not be played
Watch: Moment Trump and Biden meet at the White House
Edited by Johanna Chisholm and Caitlin Wilson in Washington DC
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
It's been nearly two hours since Trump and Biden began meeting in the Oval Office, and dozens of reporters are still waiting outside in the hopes Trump comes out to speak.
It's unclear if he will – but he is fully within his rights to do so.
Whether he will or not is a topic of spirited discussion among the reporters gathered.
There are, from what I can tell, roughly two schools of thought about this.
On one hand, Trump may leave without speaking to reporters, leaving the image of his visit to the Oval Office and handshake with Biden as the lasting impression of his return to the White House.
On the other hand, Trump is known to be a showman and seems to thrive on the attention – so he may not resist the temptation of so many cameras.
Many reporters are quick to point out his sudden surprise appearance in the press room to declare victory after his debate against Kamala Harris in Philadelphia earlier this year.
If you're only just joining our coverage, welcome to a very busy day in post-election US politics. Let's catch you up quickly on what's been happening so far today:
We're still waiting to see if we'll catch a glimpse of Trump as he leaves the White House and whether he'll speak to reporters – we'll keep you posted on that front, as well as bring you any updates on further cabinet nominations and any news from the Capitol after the Senate leadership election. Stay with us! 
Gary O'Donoghue
Senior North America correspondent
The election of John Thune as Senate leader is a really interesting result. Over the last few weeks, Rick Scott from Florida had emerged as perhaps the favoured candidate of the Trump camp. A lot of his backers have been bigging up Rick Scott on social media, not least Elon Musk.
Trump didn't wade into the Senate appointment formally – let's be clear about that – but people around him did. So this is perhaps the Republican party in the Senate reasserting a degree of independence – saying "we're going to choose the person that we want as our leader, rather than who the White House wants".
John Thune is a seasoned senator; he knows the ropes, has been in leadership for a long time and I think will have a very clear handle on what’s possible and what’s not possible in that chamber. He will no doubt come to the White House when Donald Trump is here and tell them what lawmakers can and can't do and in what kind of timescale.
Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Just a few minutes after his election, the next Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has said in a statement he is "extremely honoured" to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress.
"I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House. This Republican team is united behind President Trump's agenda, and our work starts today," he said.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
Having hundreds of billions of dollars may be enough to purchase a social media company and land an all-access pass to the president-elect’s inner circle, but the US Senate still does what the Senate wants.
Florida Senator Rick Scott was Elon Musk’s endorsed candidate for Republican Senate majority leader – and, by implication, Donald Trump’s preference. But in secret ballot voting, the Republicans in the chamber quickly opted for a more traditional pick, South Dakota Senator John Thune.
Thune had served as the second-ranking Senate Republican for four years – plenty of time to win over his conservative colleagues in what is, essentially, a popularity contest. Scott, on the other hand, was more of a firebrand – who promised the kind of confrontational conservativism that is more typical in the House of Representatives.
In the end, the Senate – typically regarded as the more genteel congressional body – opted for the smooth-talking South Dakotan.
It represents a bit of a setback for Trump and his team, who likely would have preferred a more aggressive partisan in the top spot, ready to discard Senate traditions and procedures to advance his agenda. The more vocal of Trump’s Maga faithful are sure to complain.
Thune, however, is an talented legislative operator. Like his predecessor, Mitch McConnell, he may move slowly but he knows the levers to pull in the Senate to get results.Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Both the Democratic and Republican parties select a leader for the caucus in both chambers with every new Congress. In the Senate, the leader for the party in power serves as the majority leader, with the other party's leader serving as the minority leader.
Majority and minority leaders serve as a spokesperson for their caucuses – they help coordinate policy positions and control the Senate floor by calling for votes on bills and determining the legislative calendar, as well as whip up votes and direct policy priorities.Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
Let's take you back to the ongoing secret-ballot contest to elect the new Republican Senate leader.
South Dakota Senator John Thune has won the race and will replace Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who has held the top leadership post among Republicans for the past 17 years.
In a second-ballot round, Thune won a majority of 29 votes in his favour from among colleagues, while his opponent – John Cornyn of Texas – won 24 votes.
Florida Senator Rick Scott, the preferred choice of Trump affiliates, was eliminated from the race after garnering only 13 votes in the first-ballot round.
That round saw Thune earn 23 votes and Cornyn earn 15.
This video can not be played
Watch: Moment Trump and Biden meet at the White House
Well Mr President-elect and former president, Donald, congratulations. We look forward to having a smooth transition, doing everything we can to make sure you're accommodated and get what you need. We're going to get a chance to talk about some of that today. So welcome, welcome back."
President Joe Biden
Thank you very much. Politics is tough, and it's in many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today and I appreciate it very much… A transition that is so smooth, it will be as smooth as it can get. I very much appreciate that Joe."
President-elect Donald Trump
Jill Biden, pictured earlier this morning, hand delivered a message to Donald Trump for his wife, Melania
The outgoing First Lady joined President Joe Biden to greet President-elect Donald Trump at the White House this morning.
During this meeting, Jill Biden gave Trump a letter for his wife, Melania Trump, who chose not to attend the traditional post-election tour of the residence.
"She gave Mr. Trump a handwritten letter of congratulations for Mrs. Trump, which also expressed her team’s readiness to assist with the transition," the White House says.Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Besides the journalists here waiting in the hopes that Donald Trump comes out – which now number well over 100 – there is another small crowd trying to catch a glimpse.
Just next door at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a small crowd of staffers has formed on the steps, facing toward the White House.
Some of these people will, presumably, already be pondering what their future looks like once a new administration comes into town in January.
Today's meeting between Donald Trump and Joe Biden marks the start of the president-elect's transition back into the White House.
And, despite the pair's differences, they smiled while Trump thanked Biden for his help as they shook hands in front of a roaring fireplace.
Joe Biden welcomed Donald Trump to the White House ahead of a handover of presidential power in January
Trump thanked the US president for helping towards a smooth transition as he met Biden in the White House
Iona Hampson
Reporting from the White House
As Biden and Trump meet inside the White House, we join dozens of journalists reporting from outside the West Wing, where the smell of burning firewood (pictured inside the Oval Office) drifts through the air.
I overheard one reporter say to another "just think about it as a normal day".
There's always key moments on days like this to get the right shots and be in the right place.
This is a historic day, but to calm the nerves, journalists are trying to see this as just another sunny Tuesday in the nation's capital.Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from White House
The White House pool has just been ushered out of the Oval Office where Trump and Biden are meeting.
We're still getting quotes from inside, but, as we just reported, we do know that Trump said that "politics is tough".
"And in many cases it's not a nice world," he added. "But it's a nice world today."
Trump also thanked Biden for a smooth transition, to which Biden said "you're welcome".
Trump and Biden are now seated in the Oval Office of the White House.
President-elect Trump has told Biden that politics is "tough" before thanking him for an anticipated smooth transition.
"I appreciate very much a transition that's so smooth, it'll be as smooth as it can get," Trump says.
Donald Trump is at the White House for his meeting with President Biden.
The two will gather in the Oval Office to privately discuss the transition of power and other topics.
We will bring you more lines from their meeting as we get them. 
Brandon Drenon
Reporting from Washington DC
Donald Trump's White House visit today – on President Joe Biden's invitation – is a return to tradition that was eschewed in 2020, when Trump was the outgoing president and Biden was the president-elect.
At the time, Trump did not accept that he lost that election, making false claims of election fraud – a position which he still maintains.
Trump broke with tradition and did not invite Biden to the White House to meet during that transition period.
Rather, on the day that Biden's victory was to be certified in Congress, Trump held a rally where he told his supporters to "fight like hell" ahead of the riot at the Capitol. He then skipped Biden's inauguration ceremony in January 2021, in another break from the norm.
Four years later, Biden has invited Trump for an Oval Office meeting in a return to tradition, saying he is committed to "a peaceful transfer of power", despite the two presidents' often harsh words towards each other.
Donald Trump has left his meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington and is now headed toward the White House, approximately a 10- to 15-minute drive.
He is expected to meet with Joe Biden soon. 
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
In the two years or so I have been coming to the White House regularly, today is by far the busiest I've ever seen it.
I was just meeting a friend for breakfast and a coffee about a block away, and decided to follow a long string of unfamiliar reporters carrying gear to the White House.
Aside from those journalists, there were very few signs anything unusual was happening here today, with the exception of a group of four or five people in red Maga hats in Lafayette Square nearby.
When I got to the White House security checkpoint, there was a small crowd of reporters – mostly from foreign news outlets – in a queue to get in, some visibly anxious about how long it was taking. Most aren't regulars, and without a coveted "hard pass" to get in, they had to make appointments to be escorted by press staffers.
On the grounds of the White House, dozens of cameras have been set up on the driveway near the West Wing in the hopes that Donald Trump will come out and address the media after his meeting with President Biden later this morning.Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill
The answer is yes.
We’ve reported that Vice-President-elect JD Vance, who currently represents Ohio in the US Congress's upper chamber, has attended today's Senate leadership election with his fellow Republican lawmakers.
Vance is eligible to cast a secret ballot in the election given he currently holds a Senate seat, which he was elected to in 2022. His term technically ends in 2029: he will be considered a member of the 119th Congress – briefly – before being sworn in as vice-president on Inauguration Day in January.
It was unclear if he would attend the vote up until his arrival this morning.
Donald Trump has received a standing ovation from his Republican colleagues in Washington this morning.
The president-elect began his remarks by saying: "It's nice to win. It's always nice to win."
He then went into further detail about his "historic" victory, adding that he won the popular vote by 7.1 million and also won all seven battleground states. In fact, he currently has a lead of just over 3 million votes with more to be counted.
Press cameras were then asked to leave the room, as the president-elect continued speaking.
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