Obama's friendly exchange with Trump sent a signal that dominant sections of the state are prepared to accept as president a man who, just months earlier, they had correctly identified as a fascist and would-be dictator.

Trump is obviously no fan of Biden, but Obama and his veep also have a famously complex relationship, only made more so after Obama helped nudge Biden to quit the presidential race last summer. Surely Obama feels some frustration that Biden fumbled a possibly winnable race; maybe he couldn’t help spill to his sworn enemy?

President Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address to the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office, five days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.