People Were Imagining What It Would Be Like When Donald Trump Met Barack Obama

Awks in the Oval Office.
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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

They’ve been arch-enemies for years, but today President-elect Donald Trump met President Barack Obama at the White House in one of the most uncomfortable political encounters of all time.

Their problems are well-documented. Obama said Trump was “uniquely unfit” to lead the country. Trump spent years questioning - wrongly - whether Obama was born in America. 

Obama mocking Trump five years ago at a White House correspondents’ dinner underlines the enmity between the two.

It was thought there would be little by way of access to the historic meeting.

In any case, the face-off was eagerly anticipated

In lieu of a transcript, people were trying to imagine how the encounter went down

There was no love lost, either, between Trump and Vice President, Joe Biden, during the election campaign.

Perhaps things were going to run more smoothly than many imagined

And their first contact could have been awkward

Perhaps a Star Trek metaphor best sums it up

In the event, it was as awkward as predicted - but maybe could have been worse

Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
JIM WATSON via Getty Images
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JIM WATSON via Getty Images
JIM WATSON via Getty Images
JIM WATSON via Getty Images
Win McNamee via Getty Images

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