WASHINGTON (AP) — The fireplace crackled in the Oval Office Wednesday morning as the President Joe Biden shook hands with Donald Trump and congratulated him on his electoral victory.

“Welcome,” Biden told Trump, who said the transition “will be as smooth as possible.”

It was a cordial exchange that stood in stark contrast to the strangeness of the political moment. Here is Biden, who made it his mission to prevent his predecessor from becoming his successor, prepares to cede power to Trump, who never conceded defeat to Biden four years ago.

But Washington, still feeling the aftershocks of Trump’s chaotic first term, seems resigned to the potential earthquake of his second. There were no protests in the streets and no surprises during the former and future president’s nearly four-hour visit.

The scene was far different from when Trump visited the city after his shocking victory over Hillary Clinton eight years ago. At the time, the country was still trying to understand the real estate mogul and former reality TV star, and Trump seemed somewhat nervous. his meeting in the Oval Office with outgoing President Barack Obama.

Today, Trump is undeniably triumphant and confident in his comeback, cementing his place in American politics by overcoming two impeachments, a criminal conviction and two assassination attempts to win a second term in the White House.

The victory lap began as soon as Trump landed in his red-white-dark blue plane with his name emblazoned on the side.

“It’s good to win,” Trump told House Republicans during their first meeting of the day.

He also hinted that he might not want to leave once his term ends.

“I suspect I won’t run again unless you say, ‘He’s so good we have to find something else,'” Trump said.

The lawmakers laughed. Was it really a joke? Or a suggestion that Trump views the constitutional ban on serving more than two terms as malleable?

There was no way to be sure, an uncertainty reminiscent of Trump’s tone in Washington during his first visit to Washington. Either way, it seems unlikely that Trump will face much resistance from a Republican Party reshaped in his image and likely to control the country. all branches of the federal government.

“If Donald Trump says, ‘Jump three feet high and scratch your head,’ we all jump three feet high and scratch our heads,” said Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas. He wore a “Make America Great Again” tie and gold Trump sneakers.

The meeting took place in a hotel conference room just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, which Trump had urged his supporters to march on. January 6, 2021as Congress ceremonially certified Biden’s election victory. Fueled by Trump’s false claims of election fraud, rioters smashed windows, fought with police and attempted to prevent the transfer of power.

They failed, but over the next few years, Trump convinced Americans to put aside their concerns about his attempt to stay in power and trust him to address their problems. economic malaise and concerns about migration.

He won a decisive victory over Kamala Harristhe Democratic vice president who replaced Biden at the top of the ranking after a disastrous debate, concerns about his age crystallized over the summer.

When Trump finished speaking with House Republicans on Wednesday, his motorcade took him to the White House for the meeting with Biden. A few dozen Trump supporters stood at the gate before his arrival, one holding a sign saying, “Welcome back.”

Dozens of reporters gathered on the grounds hoping to catch a glimpse of Trump — so many Secret Services ran out of temporary passes granted to visiting reporters.

Harris kept his distance. A person familiar with her schedule said she holds private meetings at her official residence.

Trump’s campaign said his visit to Washington was “a harbinger of the radical change to come in just weeks.”

An X-factor for Trump’s second presidency is Elon Musk, the world’s richest man who is frequently at the president-elect’s side. He owns the social media company formerly known as Twitter, as well as an electric vehicle maker and a space rocket company with billions of dollars in government contracts. Trump said this week that Musk would help lead an advisory commission on government effectiveness.

Musk joined Trump for his meeting with House Republicans and added some star power of his own.

“He got three standing ovations,” said Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina.

It’s not just the federal government that is waking up to the reality of Trump’s return. So are city leaders.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday she is committed to “ensuring a smooth, collaborative transition” and wants to work with the new administration to bring federal employees back to their offices to rejuvenate centers- cities.

She also seemed to be preparing for the confrontations to come.

“We’re not in a new place,” Bowser said. “We’ve been to this place before.”

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Associated Press journalists Farnoush Amiri, Josh Boak, Kevin Freking, Ashraf Khalil, Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville and Will Weissert contributed to this report.