Sam Cabral
Reporting from Washington DC

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump's victory and impending return to power is a sound defeat of the Republican Party's establishment wing, represented by the likes of Mitch McConnell, its longest-ever Senate leader.

For the past 17 years, the Kentucky Republican has used tactical nous and hardball politics to maintain power over an increasingly restive caucus. In Trump's first term, the two worked together on tax legislation as well as on remaking the Supreme Court and much of the federal judiciary.

But their long-apparent friction exploded into full public view after Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. McConnell harshly criticised Trump for his baseless claims of voter fraud and for "provoking" the January 6 attack at the US Capitol. The next two years saw Trump regularly savage him online as an "old broken down crow" and launch tirades against his Taiwanese-born wife.

Less than a month before Trump informally clinched the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in March, McConnell said he would step down as leader at the end of the term.

But there is another reason. Though aides have downplayed these concerns, he is now 82 years old and faces scrutiny over his health, including a concussion from a fall last year and two unexplained instances of freezing as he spoke in public.

McConnell says he has "enough gas in the tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics" and complete his Senate term, which ends in January 2027. But he will do it from an unusual position - the back benches.

Image source, Reuters

Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate Republican leader, said: "John Thune's election is a clear endorsement of a consummate leader.

"The American people elected Republicans to restore stability and order after four years of Washington Democrats’ failure. John Thune will take the reins with a tremendous opportunity to lead this transformation," McConnell says, in an emailed statement.

McConnell, who has served in Senate leadership for 17 years, is widely seen as an establishment Republican figure in a different vein than Maga Republicans such as Rick Scott, whom many Trump loyalists had been rooting for in the majority leader contest.

His decision to step down from the role comes after multiple fractious moments between him and Trump during the president-elect's first administration.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Image source, BBC / Rachel Looker

Thune is continuing to speak after being elected Senate majority leader by his fellow Republicans.

He says the Senate will do everything it can to process President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet and other administration nominations quickly.

When asked if the Senate filibuster - a tactic that allows for unlimited debate and dictates the number of votes measure need to pass in the chamber - will remain unchanged, he responded: "Yes".

"The Senate is a place where the minority has a voice in our process and we will do the job the founders intended us to do," Thune says.

You can watch part of his remarks in the video below.

Image source, Reuters

US Democrats lost control of the Senate in last week's election. Preparing to take on the majority party role, Republicans earlier today participated in a secret ballot election to choose John Thune as the next Senate majority leader.

Chuck Schumer, the Democrat who currently holds the majority leader position until the next Congress is sworn in, has congratulated Thune after his win.

"I look forward to working with [Thune]. We've done many bipartisan things here in the Senate together and I hope that continues," Schumer says.

"As you know, I strongly believe that bipartisanship is the best and often the only way to get things done in the Senate."

Rachel Looker
Reporting from the Capitol

Image source, Reuters

Thune is talking to reporters now after winning the Senate leadership election.

“It's a new day in the US Senate,” he says.

Thune says the Republican leadership team is united and prepared to enact President-elect Trump’s agenda.

He mentions re-enforcing border security laws, overturning regulations passed during the Biden-Harris administration and changing up energy policy in the US.

"I'm excited to get to work with this team right away," Thune says.

"I promise to be a leader who serves the entire Republican Congress," he adds, referencing those who did not vote for him during the leadership ballot earlier today.

Image source, BBC / Rachel Looker

Alex Lederman and Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Now, back in the other chamber of Congress, Senate Republicans are starting to leave the Old Senate Chamber where they were voting on other leadership positions after selecting South Dakota Senator John Thune as the next Senate majority leader.

Among those coming out were Senator and Vice-President-elect JD Vance.

We're expecting to hear from newly elected Thune shortly - we'll bring you those lines when that happen.

We also ran into several Democrats, who told us on their way to the Senate floor that they respect Republicans’ decision to choose Thune as their party leader.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman said he "can understand" why Republicans chose Thune.

"Our politics are different, but I think he's a serious man, and I do think of all the potential choices that seems like the one most compatible with a leader that's going to want to work with our caucus," Fetterman added.

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, called Thune a "skilled leader".

We asked Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, who lost his Ohio re-election bid, his thoughts on Thune winning the race.

"I'm not going to be here to suffer under Republican leadership," he said, shrugging.

Alex Lederman
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Now that Trump has left his White House meeting with Biden, let's pivot back to update you on the goings-on on Capitol Hill.

Earlier, I was in the lobby of the hotel where Trump was talking with House Republican lawmakers before he headed over to Pennsylvania Avenue. There were dozens of people milling around - press, staffers, lawmakers, many hoping to catch a glimpse of the former and future president.

Members of the public walked to the elevators with suitcases, staying in a hotel they may not have known was hosting the president-elect.

A hotel worker had told us members of the press that we were welcome to stay in the lobby - "warm up, grab a cup of coffee" - but could not record any audio or video.

After the meeting between Trump and lawmakers, Representative Troy Nehls from Texas came out wearing a tie reading "Trump 2024" - he's been known to wear other Trump-themed ties before.

He said that Republicans in the House of Representatives must follow "every single word" of President-elect Donald Trump's agenda and "not deviate at all".

"If Donald Trump says jump three feet high and scratch your head, we all jump three feet high and scratch our heads. That's it. He's the greatest thing since sliced bread."

Elon Musk attended but didn’t speak at the meeting, Nehls said.

Nevertheless, the Republican members all clapped for the billionaire owner of SpaceX and Tesla. "We owe him a debt of gratitude for helping Donald Trump make America great again."

Trump has concluded his meeting with Biden and left the White House without coming out to speak to journalists gathered outside.

After brief remarks earlier in front of reporters at the start of their meeting in the Oval Office, where Trump thanked Biden for a "smooth" transition of power, the two continued to speak behind closed doors for nearly two hours.

They are expected to have discussed a number of items, from US foreign policy to the logistics of handing over power.

According to the White House, Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles and Biden's chief of staff Jeff Zients also joined the two presidents for part of the meeting, says our US news partner CBS.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

It's been nearly two hours since Trump and Biden began meeting in the Oval Office, and dozens of reporters are still waiting outside in the hopes Trump comes out to speak.

It's unclear if he will - but he is fully within his rights to do so.

Whether he will or not is a topic of spirited discussion among the reporters gathered.

There are, from what I can tell, roughly two schools of thought about this.

On one hand, Trump may leave without speaking to reporters, leaving the image of his visit to the Oval Office and handshake with Biden as the lasting impression of his return to the White House.

On the other hand, Trump is known to be a showman and seems to thrive on the attention - so he may not resist the temptation of so many cameras.

Many reporters are quick to point out his sudden surprise appearance in the press room to declare victory after his debate against Kamala Harris in Philadelphia earlier this year.

If you're only just joining our coverage, welcome to a very busy day in post-election US politics. Let's catch you up quickly on what's been happening so far today:

• After meeting with House Republicans just a few minutes away from Capitol Hill, President-elect Donald Trump set foot into the White House for the first time in four years to meet President Joe Biden
• The pair took part in a quick photo-op, exchanging pleasantries as they both pledged to make the transition go "as smooth as it can get"
• Melania Trump did not join her husband at the White House but First Lady Jill Biden handed Trump a letter for her successor in which she expressed "her team's readiness to assist with the transition"
• As Trump and Biden met, Senate Republicans met to elect their new majority leader, picking South Dakota Senator John Thune after two rounds of voting
• The president-elect is still working on selecting new members of his administration. He confirmed top aide Dan Scavino will work as his deputy chief of staff
• Former senior advisor to the president for policy Stephen Miller will be returning as an assistant to the president and homeland security advisor. RNC political director James Blair will serve as deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs

We're still waiting to see if we'll catch a glimpse of Trump as he leaves the White House and whether he'll speak to reporters - we'll keep you posted on that front, as well as bring you any updates on further cabinet nominations and any news from the Capitol after the Senate leadership election. Stay with us!

Republican party in Senate reasserts independence with Thune pickpublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November

17:32 GMT 13 November

Gary O'Donoghue
Senior North America correspondent

The election of John Thune as Senate leader is a really interesting result. Over the last few weeks, Rick Scott from Florida had emerged as perhaps the favoured candidate of the Trump camp. A lot of his backers have been bigging up Rick Scott on social media, not least Elon Musk.

Trump didn't wade into the Senate appointment formally - let's be clear about that - but people around him did. So this is perhaps the Republican party in the Senate reasserting a degree of independence - saying "we're going to choose the person that we want as our leader, rather than who the White House wants".

John Thune is a seasoned senator; he knows the ropes, has been in leadership for a long time and I think will have a very clear handle on what’s possible and what’s not possible in that chamber. He will no doubt come to the White House when Donald Trump is here and tell them what lawmakers can and can't do and in what kind of timescale.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Just a few minutes after his election, the next Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has said in a statement he is "extremely honoured" to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress.

"I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House. This Republican team is united behind President Trump's agenda, and our work starts today," he said.

What does the outcome of the Senate leadership contest mean?published at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 13 November

17:25 GMT 13 November

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent

Having hundreds of billions of dollars may be enough to purchase a social media company and land an all-access pass to the president-elect’s inner circle, but the US Senate still does what the Senate wants.

Florida Senator Rick Scott was Elon Musk’s endorsed candidate for Republican Senate majority leader – and, by implication, Donald Trump’s preference. But in secret ballot voting, the Republicans in the chamber quickly opted for a more traditional pick, South Dakota Senator John Thune.

Thune had served as the second-ranking Senate Republican for four years – plenty of time to win over his conservative colleagues in what is, essentially, a popularity contest. Scott, on the other hand, was more of a firebrand – who promised the kind of confrontational conservativism that is more typical in the House of Representatives.

In the end, the Senate – typically regarded as the more genteel congressional body – opted for the smooth-talking South Dakotan.

It represents a bit of a setback for Trump and his team, who likely would have preferred a more aggressive partisan in the top spot, ready to discard Senate traditions and procedures to advance his agenda. The more vocal of Trump’s Maga faithful are sure to complain.

Thune, however, is an talented legislative operator. Like his predecessor, Mitch McConnell, he may move slowly but he knows the levers to pull in the Senate to get results.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Both the Democratic and Republican parties select a leader for the caucus in both chambers with every new Congress. In the Senate, the leader for the party in power serves as the majority leader, with the other party's leader serving as the minority leader.

Majority and minority leaders serve as a spokesperson for their caucuses - they help coordinate policy positions and control the Senate floor by calling for votes on bills and determining the legislative calendar, as well as whip up votes and direct policy priorities.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Let's take you back to the ongoing secret-ballot contest to elect the new Republican Senate leader.

South Dakota Senator John Thune has won the race and will replace Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who has held the top leadership post among Republicans for the past 18 years.

In a second-ballot round, Thune won a majority of 29 votes in his favour from among colleagues, while his opponent - John Cornyn of Texas - won 24 votes.

Florida Senator Rick Scott, the preferred choice of Trump affiliates, was eliminated from the race after garnering only 13 votes in the first-ballot round.

That round saw Thune earn 23 votes and Cornyn earn 15.

Image source, EPA

The outgoing First Lady joined President Joe Biden to greet President-elect Donald Trump at the White House this morning.

During this meeting, Jill Biden gave Trump a letter for his wife, Melania Trump, who chose not to attend the traditional post-election tour of the residence.

"She gave Mr. Trump a handwritten letter of congratulations for Mrs. Trump, which also expressed her team’s readiness to assist with the transition," the White House says.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Besides the journalists here waiting in the hopes that Donald Trump comes out - which now number well over 100 - there is another small crowd trying to catch a glimpse.

Just next door at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a small crowd of staffers has formed on the steps, facing toward the White House.

Some of these people will, presumably, already be pondering what their future looks like once a new administration comes into town in January.

Today's meeting between Donald Trump and Joe Biden marks the start of the president-elect's transition back into the White House.

And, despite the pair's differences, they smiled while Trump thanked Biden for his help as they shook hands in front of a roaring fireplace.

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Image source, Getty Images

Iona Hampson
Reporting from the White House

As Biden and Trump meet inside the White House, we join dozens of journalists reporting from outside the West Wing, where the smell of burning firewood (pictured inside the Oval Office) drifts through the air.

I overheard one reporter say to another "just think about it as a normal day".

There's always key moments on days like this to get the right shots and be in the right place.

This is a historic day, but to calm the nerves, journalists are trying to see this as just another sunny Tuesday in the nation's capital.