Donald Trump to meet Barack Obama at White House
Barack Obama will meet President-elect Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, a day after the Republican clinched an astounding victory in the US presidential election following a divisive campaign.
The pair will meet in the Oval Office at 11am local time to discuss the process leading up to the formal handover of power in January.
Mr Obama had strongly condemned many of Mr Trump's views throughout the election campaign, while the billionaire businessman repeatedly slammed his record in office, as he pledged to repeal so-called Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act was President Obama's radical reform of America's healthcare that was signed into law in 2010.
But speaking on Wednesday, Mr Obama said he was "heartened" by the tone of Donald Trump's statement accepting victory in the US presidential election and hoped he would lead the country in a spirit of unity and respect.
The outgoing US President promised to ensure a smooth transition of power, and said he was "rooting for his success" and called on Americans on both sides of the political divide to remember that "we are actually all on one team".
"We all want what is best for this country. That's what I heard in Mr Trump's remarks last night. That's what I heard again when I spoke to him directly and I was heartened by that. That's what the country needs - a sense of unity, a sense of inclusion, a respect for our institutions, our way of life, the rule of law and a respect for each other.
"I hope that he maintains that spirit throughout this transition and I certainly hope that's how his presidency has a chance to begin."