WASHINGTON — President Bush will meet with President-elect Barack Obama in the Oval Office on Monday to discuss the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other challenges the new administration will face in January, officials said Thursday.
Also that afternoon, first lady Laura Bush will give Michelle Obama a tour of the White House residence, Bush administration officials said.
The event will mark the first meeting between the departing and incoming presidents since Obama was elected Tuesday, and it underscores how rapidly the complex transition process is unfolding in a time of war and financial crisis. Obama has scheduled his first post-election news conference in Chicago for today.
“Michelle and I look forward to meeting with President Bush and the first lady on Monday to begin the process of a smooth, effective transition,” Obama said in a statement. “I thank him for reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanship that will be required to meet the many challenges we face as a nation.”
Bush, after meeting with his Cabinet on Thursday to discuss the handover, told a group of White House staffers on the South Lawn, “All of us must ensure that the next president and his team can hit the ground running.”
He also issued a warning.
“We face economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in,” Bush said. “This will also be America’s first wartime presidential transition in four decades. We’re in a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us, and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change.”
Bush’s comments to his staff also had the feel of an early goodbye with 75 days left in office. He stood with the Cabinet, the first lady, and the vice president and his wife. By the time he finished speaking and offered a wave to the crowd, Bush grew emotional. Laura Bush leaned in to give him a hug.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
